BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- China hailed its friendship with Kenya and pledged to provide more aid to African countries, said Wu Bangguo in Nairobi yesterday.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during a meeting with Kenyan Vice-President Moody Awori.

    The country's President Mwai Kibaki was on an overseas trip.

    Wu told Awori that China is glad to see that its assistance has generated positive social and economic benefits in Kenya.

    With increasing economic power, China will provide more aid to African friends, said Wu.

    He said that both China and Kenya pay a great deal of attention to economic and trade ties, while good political relations have laid a solid foundation for bilateral economic and trade co-operation.

    China will encourage enterprises to invest in Kenya and Africa, said Wu.

    Awori expressed his gratitude for China's generous assistance.

    Wu praised the foreign and domestic policies of the government of President Kibaki.

    The top Chinese legislator also touched upon China's relations with African countries, which is one of the major topics during his current four-nation African tour, which will also take him to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria.

    The new Chinese leadership attaches great importance to relations with Africa. Since the end of last year, President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong have all visited some African countries.

    "With the changing international situation, the strategic status of China-African relations is growing," said Wu.

    China initiated the China-Africa Co-operation Forum in 2000 to strengthen its partnership with African countries.

    "We are glad to see that the forum has become a new platform and mechanism for collective consultation and practical co-operation between China and African countries," said Wu in the meeting.

    China and African countries are now making preparations for the third ministerial-level meeting of the forum in Beijing in 2006.

    "I believe that with the joint efforts of the two sides, the China-Africa Co-operation Forum will become better and play a bigger role in developing China-African friendship," he added.

    Awori reiterated the one-China policy in the meeting.

    Wu landed in the capital of Zimbabwe this morning Beijing time to continue his African tour.

    (China Daily)