Chinese President Hu Jintao met in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, president of the Republic of Congo, and Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, president of South Africa.

 

Hu met with the two African leaders on the sideline of the G8 St. Petersburg summit. The three leaders came here to attend the outreach session of the G8 summit, to be held on Monday.

 

During his meeting with Sassou-Nguesso, Hu said the Republic of Congo is a trust-worthy friend of China, extending appreciation for Congo's adherence to the one-China policy.

 

Hu said both countries have vowed to enhance strategic cooperation, which symbolizes that the bilateral cooperation has entered a new phase.

 

Sassou-Nguesso, whose country holds the current presidency of the African Union, said China's assistance has embodied Chinese people's sincere friendship toward Congo.

 

The Chinese president said the situation in Africa has seen good changes and the African Union has played a leading role in safeguarding the unity and resolving various difficulties of the continent.

 

China attaches importance to the cooperation with the African Union, said Hu, adding that China would continue to offer substantial help in Africa's development.

 

Sassou-Nguesso said he was looking forward to the success of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to be held in November in Beijing.

 

In his meeting with Mbeki, Hu said China attaches great importance to its ties with South Africa, hoping that both sides would join hands to lift the bilateral strategic partnership into a higher level.

 

Mbeki said the economic cooperation between China and South Africa is of vital importance to helping South Africa with employment as well as to the national economic development at large.

 

Hu said China would conduct more coordination and consultation with African countries like South Africa, so as to make the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, due in November, successful.

 

Mbeki said Africa would join hands with China to tackle various challenges Africa is facing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)