At meetings with several African state leaders at the Beijing summit Chinese President Hu Jintao said Wednesday the event marked the beginning of a more prosperous relationship between the two.

"The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation  (FOCAC) through its six-year development has become an important arena for dialogue and cooperation," he told African leaders attending the summit.

The two-day event with the theme of friendship, peace, cooperation and development opens on November 4. The leaders of 48 African countries will attend.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-African diplomatic relations. The summit will recall achievements, draw up a blueprint for relations and promote a new strategic partnership.

"This summit demonstrates the common aspirations of the Chinese and African peoples and conforms to the world trend of peace, development and cooperation," Hu said.
 
Hu was meeting on Wednesday with Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi and Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the Commission of the African Union.

At the meeting with the Gabonese President Hu said China and Gabon had boosted cooperation on trade, resource exploration, infrastructure construction and telecommunications.

"We'll work with Gabon to deepen economic and trade cooperation and consultation in international affairs," he said. Bongo agreed with Hu and said Gabon supported China's reunification.

Meeting with Sambi the Chinese President said Sino-Comoros relations were "a good example of equal treatment between big and small countries and cooperation".

He said China would continue mutually beneficial cooperation with Comoros and encourage entrepreneurs to invest there. Sambi said he hoped China would continue to support the Comoros. He reaffirmed his government would adhere to one-China policy.

In talks with Konare, Hu said China and Africa had fostered friendship with equal treatment and mutual trust.

He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the African Union (AU) on safeguarding regional stability, promoting unity and pushing economic integration. "China views the relations with the AU as an important component of Sino-African relations," he added.

Konare said the AU valued relations with China and would contribute to their further development.

(Xinhua News Agency, November 2, 2006)