A Chinese company has won a 900 million euro ($1.21 billion) contract to build a new international airport in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, underscoring the close links between China and Sudan.

A subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company will build a runway long enough to handle giant Airbus A380s, a passenger terminal, hanger, control tower and other facilities, China's state-owned companies administrator said in a statement on its website (www.sasac.gov.cn) on Tuesday.

"After this project is completed, it will greatly enhance the degree of internationalisation of Sudan's capital Khartoum, and also increase the impact China Communications Construction Company will have in Sudan's market," the statement said.

The company has a Hong Kong-listed unit , and is involved in infrastructure projects around the world. In January it was given an $810 million contract to build the second phase of a new port in Sri Lanka.

China relied on Sudan as its sixth largest source of oil imports in 2010, and has been keen to build a relationship with leaders in the south.

Zhang Jun, the Chinese Commercial Consul to south Sudan, said oil remained the backbone of the economy in both the north and south, and hoped the agreement between the two sides would not affect oil production, China Business News reported on Tuesday.

($1=.7413 Euro)

Reuters