Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius from Feb. 10 to 17, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu announced Tuesday.

Jiang told a regular press conference that Hu's visit is aimed at further consolidating China's friendship and cooperation with these countries, strengthening China's cooperation with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and promoting the implementation of the measures announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Hu will hold talks and meetings with leaders of the five countries, and exchange views on further strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Jiang said.

She added that China believed Hu's visits will promote the strategic friendly relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, and the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, consolidate the traditional friendship between China and African countries.

Hu is invited by King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2009)