Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday delivered a key-note speech on China-Africa ties at a welcoming rally attended by people from various sectors in Tanzania. 

In his speech, Hu reaffirmed that the Chinese people have always cherished the traditional friendship with Africa and will continue to do so in the future.

"We will always view African people as our all-weather friends whom we can fully trust and count on. We will forever remain good brothers and good partners of the African people," he said.

He also made a six-point proposal on further strengthening relations with African nations:

-- First, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance to jointly meet the challenge of the international financial crisis.

-- Second, enhance mutual trust and cement the political foundation for traditional friendship.

-- Third, raise the level of practical economic and trade cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

-- Fourth, expand people-to-people exchanges and deepen cultural cooperation.

-- Fifth, work closely together and strengthen coordination in international affairs.

-- Sixth, enhance coordination and jointly promote the further development of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Tanzania is the fourth leg of Hu's week-long tour, which has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Mali and Senegal. He will later visit Mauritius before flying home on Tuesday.

This is the Chinese president's sixth visit to Africa and his second since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.

At the forum, China announced eight measures designed to strengthen cooperation and forge a new type of strategic partnership with Africa.  

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2009)