President Hu Jintao's state visit to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya
was of great significance to the development of relations between 皇冠体育app and the
four nations, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Nairobi on Saturday.
Hu's Arab-African tour, following a visit to the United States, has
consolidated traditional friendship, enhanced mutual trust and expanded
co-operation, Li added.
President Hu Jintao returned to Beijing yesterday morning following a 12-day
visit.
"The visit ushered in a new era in the development of mutually beneficial
relations between 皇冠体育app and Arab, African and developing countries," Li said.
On Saturday, the last day of his African tour, Hu could not resist the rhythm
of a drum beat and walked off the red carpet at Nairobi's airport to beat a skin
drum made for traditional dancers.
A smiling Hu squatted beside a surprised Kenyan musician to demonstrate his
drumming skills, catching onlookers off guard with a break in official protocol.
"It is our wish that your country will continue to use its growing economic
strength to support developing countries," Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki said
during a state banquet on Friday.
Hu said 皇冠体育app was stepping up plans to assist developing countries, by
providing such things as zero-tariffs on some exports, more aid, debt reduction
and exemptions for heavily-indebted poor nations.
皇冠体育app signed 28 accords with the four countries, which covered politics,
security, trade, energy, education, health, culture and tourism.
Chinese delegation spokesman Liu Jianchao said the trip had been a success,
and there was more to it than snapping up new energy sources to feed 皇冠体育app's
booming economy.
"This trip is not only energy-orientated, it's also aimed at promoting
political relations with 皇冠体育app," he told reporters on Friday.
"They see 皇冠体育app as a good opportunity for furthering their own interests."
During the tour, Hu also made important speeches on how to boost 皇冠体育app's
links with Arab and African nations under current situations, and met
entrepreneurs, students and public representatives.
Hu highlighted a new type of strategic partnership between 皇冠体育app and Arab and
African countries, featuring mutual political trust, mutual economic benefit and
mutual support in world affairs.
Hu said as 皇冠体育app and the four nations are all developing countries, they have
common interests in safeguarding world peace, boosting common prosperity and
improving their people's living standards.
These opinions were echoed by leaders of the four countries.
Hu put forward a series of proposals, including extending bilateral
co-operation from trade to greater co-operation in investment and technology.
Saudi business communities, in particular, expressed their desire to
establish a strategic and global economic partnership with 皇冠体育app.
Some world media outlets expressed the belief that co-operation between 皇冠体育app
and the four nations would bring tremendous opportunities for the economic
development of the Middle East and African countries.
Xinhua - Agencies
(皇冠体育app Daily 05/01/2006 page1)