Chinese president meets Malian parliament leader on ties

Source: Xinhua | 02-14-2009 08:25

BAMAKO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday met with President of the Malian National Assembly Dioncounda Traore on deepening cooperation and friendship with the country.

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with President  of the Malian National Assembly Dioncounda Traore in Bamako,  capital of Mali, Feb. 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Hu said Mali is the first leg of his African tour which displayed China's emphasis on developing relations with Mali. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the peoples of China and Mali have built deep friendship.

In recent years, bilateral cooperation continued to be rejuvenated, with political mutual trust strengthened, economic and trade cooperation yielding good results, cooperation on education, health and tourism advancing smoothly, and mutual support and coordination on international affairs increasing, he said.

Hu said the aim of his visit is to work together with Mali to review the past, look into the future, and to promote bilateral ties. China will take the 50th anniversary of China-Mali diplomatic relations next year as the starting point to consolidate their traditional friendship, and expand pragmatic cooperation in order to boost bilateral ties to a new high.