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President Hu ends state visit to Mali

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-13 21:18

BAMAKO -- Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his state visit to Mali and left Bamako on Friday for Dakar, Senegal, to continue his "journey of friendship and cooperation" to other three African countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure in Bamako, Mali, February 12, 2009. [Xinhua]

In Bamako, Hu had talks with his Malian counterpart Amadou Toumany Toure on deepening friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

During the talks, Hu said that the world is undergoing complicated and profound changes and China-Africa relations are at an important stage of development.

He said that China would strengthen its pragmatic cooperation with Africa by continuing to increase aid to African countries, cancel part of their debts, and expand trade and investment on the continent.

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On China-Mali relations, Hu said the two countries will usher in a new era of development as next year marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

On his part, Toure said his country will build solidarity with China and strengthen friendly cooperation. Mali will, as always, adhere to the one-China policy, he said.

China and Mali have enjoyed healthy and steady development of bilateral ties since the two established diplomatic relations in 1960.

The Mali governments attaches importance to its ties with China and adheres to the one-China policy. Toure attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November 2006, and the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008.

In recent years, cooperation between the two countries has expanded in economy, trade, culture, education, medicine and health work.

From Mali, Hu will travel to other three African countries -- Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius. He visited Saudi Arabia at the start of his five-nation trip.