BRASILIA, Nov. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that he appreciates Brazil's announcement of recognizing China's market-economy status.

    "This move has enriched the connotation of the relations of strategic partnership between China and Brazil," Hu said when he and his counterpart Luis Inacio Lula da Silva met reporters together in Brasilia after their talks.

    Brazil's declaration will strengthen and expand cooperation between the two countries in trade and investment, he added.

    He said that China will continue to support mutually beneficialcooperation between the two countries in all sectors.

    "With our joint efforts, tomorrow's Sino-Brazilian relations ofstrategic partnership would become stronger," he said.

    During their talks, Hu and his Brazilian counterpart pledged toexplore ways for expanding bilateral cooperation.

    President Lula said in the talks that relations between China and Brazil have developed steadily in recent years and bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, culture andinternational affairs has been fruitful.

    He expressed his hope that the Sino-Brazilian relations of strategic partnership would be strengthened further.

    The Brazilian leader reaffirmed that his country will firmly maintain the one-China policy.

    In response, Hu spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation between China and Brazil since the two countries established diplomatic ties 30 years ago.

    The Chinese leader also praised the Brazilian government for sticking to the one-China policy.

    During the talks, Hu made four proposals for strengthening bilateral ties.

    Firstly, Hu said, the two sides should continue the exchanges of high-level visits and increase bilateral consultations.

    Secondly, Hu said, the two countries should tap potentials for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. He expressed his hope that the annual trade between the two countries could reach 20 billion US dollars in three years.

    Thirdly, he said, the two sides should coordinate and cooperate in the work of international organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, to preserve the rights and interests of the developing countries and promote the development of all countries.

    Fourthly, Hu said, the two countries should encourage exchanges of personnel in cultural, educational and social sectorsto strengthen friendship, mutual trust and cooperation between thepeoples of the two countries.

    After their talks, the two sides signed a series of cooperationdocuments.

    The Chinese president is on a state visit to Brazil, the first leg of his four-nation Latin-American trip. He will also visit Argentina, Chile and Cuba, and attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated forNovember 20-21 in Santiago. Enditem