DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President
Hu Jintao on Sunday said he reached new consensus with African leaders during
his ongoing visit to the continent.
"During my African visit, I had in-depth discussions
with leaders of related countries on bilateral relations and issues of common
concern, and we reached a number of new and important consensus," Hu said while
giving an interview to Tanzanian State Television and Hong Kong-based Phoenix
TV.
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L)
meets with his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania, Feb. 15, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
This is the president's sixth visit to Africa and his
second since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in
2006.
The four-country African tour has taken Hu to Mali
and Senegal. After his stay in Tanzania. Hu will travel on to Mauritius before
flying back home on Tuesday.
"The visit is aimed at cementing friendship,
deepening cooperation, dealing with challenges and seeking common development,"
Hu said.
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L)
meets with his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade in Dakar, capital of
Senegal, Feb. 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo
Gallery>>>
As
a sincere friend of Africa, China will actively support African countries in
developing their economies, and improving livelihood and strengthening
cooperation, he said.
"China will fully and punctually implement measures
agreed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, seek
China-Africa pragmatic relations and promote the further development of our new
strategic partnership," Hu said.
Eight measures announced at the landmark summit
included massive tariff cuts, debt exemptions, and doubling aid to Africa over a
three-year period among others.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (L, Front)
shakes hands with Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure (R, Front) after
signing agreements in Bamako, Mali, on Feb. 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao
Aimin) Photo
Gallery>>>
Hu
said he was satisfied with the development of China-Tanzania ties.
Noting Tanzania is an old and good friend of China,
Hu said the bilateral relationship has moved forward in a sound and smooth way
and yielded fruitful cooperation in various fields since the establishment of
bilateral diplomatic ties in 1964.
"It can be viewed as an exemplary relationship of
sincerity, solidarity and cooperation between the two developing countries," Hu
said.
In 2008, bilateral trade hit an all-time high,
reaching more than 1 billion U.S. dollars, Hu said.
He held talks with Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho
Kikwete and met Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume earlier on Sunday.
Hu said they reviewed the growth of China-Tanzania
relations and set a direction for bilateral relations to develop in a new era.
The two sides agreed on cementing traditional
friendship, deepening pragmatic cooperation and taking the relations to a new
high, Hu said.
"With joint efforts, I am convinced that bilateral
relations will have a promising future and benefit the two nations," Hu said.
Before the interview, Hu attended the completion
ceremony of Tanzania's state stadium and paid tribute to a cemetery for Chinese
experts who worked and died in Tanzania.
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (C,
front) and Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (R) attend the
completion ceremony of the Tanzania National Main Stadium, built by a
Chinese contractor with financing from the governments of both Tanzania
and China, in Dar Es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, Feb. 15, 2009.
(Xinhua/Ju Peng) Photo
Gallery>>>
