China is ready to make concerted efforts with Sierra Leone to further promote bilateral friendship and cooperation, said Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

At a meeting with Zainab Hawa Bangura, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Xi said cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, education and health had been fruitful since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 37 years ago.

The bilateral trade volume in the first nine months of this year reached 68 million U.S. dollars, 40 percent up from the same period last year, according to Chinese government statistics.

Xi also voiced the Chinese government's appreciation of the Sierra Leone government's adherence to the one-China policy.

Bangura, who is visiting as a guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, said the Sierra Leone government attached importance to bilateral relations and would further strengthen cooperation.

Yang and Bangura held talks in Beijing on Wednesday and agreed to further promote bilateral relations and cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2008)