BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- The Foreign Ministry has announced that President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius beginning next Tuesday. The Foreign Ministry also commented on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's upcoming visit to China.

    During a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said President Hu Jintao's trip would involve talks and meetings with the leaders of five nations. In each country, the president expects to exchange views on further strengthening bilateral ties and discuss international and regional issues of common concern.

    Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said, "President Hu Jintao's visit is aimed at further consolidating China's friendship and cooperation with these countries, strengthening China's cooperation with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and promoting the implementation of the measures announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation."

    She says China believes Hu Jintao's trip will promote the strategic friendly relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, and the new strategic partnership between China and Africa along with consolidating the traditional friendship between China and African nations.

    Also at the same press conference, Jiang Yu said China and the US are working closely on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to China.

    She says the high-level visits between the two countries are of great importance to promoting bilateral ties.

    Jiang Yu said, "We appreciate the attitude that the U.S. side is devoted to developing a more active and constructive relationship with China. We are willing to enhance dialogue and mutual trust, expand cooperation, respect each other's core interests, and jointly respond to global challenges."

    Jiang Yu says China hopes to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with U.S., to push forward the bilateral cooperation healthily and continuously.

    (Souce: CCTV.com)