BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China values the traditional friendship with Mali and is willing to deepen bilateral ties, Chinese President Hu Jintao told visiting Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure here on Saturday.

    During a meeting with Toure after the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Hu said China is proud of having a sincere friend like Mali, one of the first south-of-Sahara African countries to forge diplomatic ties with China.

    The two countries have kept close political exchanges, strengthened mutual trust, and expanded cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, medical care and human resources, Hu said.

    Toure said Mali appreciates China's assistance and Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in the country.

    Toure arrived here on Thursday for the milestone summit in China-Africa history, which drew leaders and senior officials of 48 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

    At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Toure paid a five-day state visit to China in July of 2004.

    China and Mali established diplomatic relations on Oct. 25, 1960 and bilateral trade totaled 145 million U.S. dollars in 2005.