China has signaled an interest in a long-term role in South Sudan's oil sector, and has offered to help build an export pipeline and provide technical help once the crisis with neighboring Sudan eases, a South Sudanese official said Tuesday.

China , which for years has taken the bulk of oil exported from Sudan and its former breakaway province, is hosting the new country's president and a strong ministerial team for talks this week on energy and infrastructure projects at a time when serious fighting between the two African countries is continuing.

The official, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir, said that if an agreement can't be reached to use Sudan's oil infrastructure to export crude, it would build its own pipeline, which could cross neighboring Kenya to either the port of Mombassa or Lamu.

"CNPC has a lot of experience on how to build a pipeline and refinery, and has promised it will support us technically," said deputy chief of protocol Gum Bol Noah. However, he added that China National Petroleum Corp., the country's largest oil producer, wanted to wait until the conflict cooled before proceeding with further talks.

Between 40% and 60% of South Sudan 's oil wells have been damaged after four days of aerial bombardment and fighting, Noah said. Sudanese warplanes have been bombing South Sudan 's oil-rich border regions.

China and South Sudan signed a variety of agreements Tuesday, including a "framework for integrated financial cooperation" with the Export-Import Bank of China acting as a lender. Energy deals weren't mentioned. South Sudan also opened its embassy in Beijing .

The visit "comes at a very critical moment for the Republic of South Sudan , because our neighbor Khartoum has declared war against the Republic of South Sudan ," South Sudan President Kiir said.

China is by far the largest buyer of crude produced in South Sudan and imported about 260,000 barrels a day of Sudanese crude last year. Sudan was China 's seventh-largest supplier, but shipments have fallen sharply since South Sudan halted production of about 350,000 barrels a day in January after accusing Sudan of stealing its oil meant for export.

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