DJIBOUTI, Jan. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Thursday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

    Noting that his visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Djibouti, Li stressed that the bilateral relations have developed substantially in the past 25 years with the efforts from both countries.

    He said the new Chinese leadership attaches great importance to the relations with Djibouti and other African countries, and is willing to work with Djibouti leaders to push the friendly bilateral cooperation to a new stage.

    Echoing Li's remarks on the bilateral ties, Guelleh said that Djibouti and China have built up a sincere and friendly relationship with mutual trust in the past 25 years, and China's aid to Djibouti in economic and social development has benefited the Djibouti people.

    The Djibouti government will continue to support China's "one China" policy and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

    Li, who is on a four-nation tour, on Wednesday arrived in Djibouti, a mainly desert country located on the west coast of the Gulf of Aden, for an official visit.

    He had separate talks with Djibouti Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita and Ali Abdi Farah, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.

    Li also took part in celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and signed an accord on bilateral economic and technological cooperation.

    Djibouti is the third leg of the Chinese foreign minister's four-nation African tour. Li paid an official visit to Sudan and then Comoros, and he will later travel on to Uganda to wrap up hiswhole trip. Enditem