The visiting vice president made the remarks during talks with his Ugandan counterpart Speciosa Kazibwe at the International Conference Center in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Wednesday afternoon.

China supports African countries in deciding their political systems on their own and choosing the development roads which best suit their national conditions, said Hu.

It also supports African countries to guard themselves against external interference, safeguard their national sovereignty and political stability, promote the development of their economy, and to enjoy an equal say in international affairs, he added.

China will continue to give economic assistance within its own power to African countries with no political conditions attached and develop trade and economic cooperation with them in various fields, said the vice president.

Hu stressed that China will forge a long-term, stable and new-typed relationship of equality and mutual benefit with African countries based on the principle of "sincere friendship, equal treatment, unity and cooperation, common progress and looking forward to the future".

Recalling the successful China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in Beijing last October, the vice president said the event was aimed at strengthening unity and cooperation between China and African countries.

The forum has formed a good framework for the further development of relations between China and African countries, he said.

During the talks, Ugandan Vice President Kazibwe spoke highly of China's support to Africa's development, saying the China-Africa Forum shows China' s willingness to support the development of African countries.

She said the Ugandan people appreciate it very much that China will write off part of African countries' debt, adding that this move will surely promote friendship between China and African counties.

(People's Daily 01/18/2001)