Chinese premier meets with African leaders

SHAMM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has met with several African leaders on the sidelines of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation which opened on Sunday at this Egyptian tourist resort.

Wen held separate meetings on Saturday and Sunday with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Comoran President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Nov. 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

At these meetings, the Chinese premier spoke highly of the new progress in the development of China-Africa relations, which has benefited the peoples of China and African countries, and given fresh impetus to the development of China-Africa relations.

Wen said China and African countries should strengthen solidarity and join hands to tackle such challenges as the global financial crisis and climate change.