Senior Chinese party official meets Benin's president on co-op

NAIROBI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) met on Wednesday with Benin's President Boni Yayi on efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two nations, according to reports from its city Cotonou.

China, a true friend of Africa, has provided selfless assistance to Benin at all times, Yayi said during talks with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The visit of the delegation led by Wang is an important one during Benin-Chinese intercourse in recent years, said Yayi, adding that the visit reflects the further political cooperation between the two countries.

Conveying Chinese President Hu Jintao's kind greetings and New Year wishes to President Yayi, Wang exchanged views with Yayi on friendly links, party cooperation and major international issues.

Wang, who arrived in Cotonou later Tuesday for a two-day visit after visiting the Central African Republic, on Wednesday also attended an opening ceremony of a China-donated agricultural demonstration center and visited the Chinese trade development center.