President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to Africa is of great political significance, Cote d'Ivoire Ambassador to China Coffie Alain Nicaise said in Beijing on Monday.

 

President Hu is to pay state visits to Morroco, Nigeria and Kenya from April 24 to 29. This will be the second trip Hu made to Africa since he took office in 2003. Hu visited Egypt, Gabon and Algeria between January and February in 2004.

 

Coffie said the visits show that China attaches priority to developing relations with African countries in its foreign policy.

 

Coffie told a press conference held in the embassy that China has rendered firm support to African people in their struggle for national liberalization, development and rejuvenation of the continent. He said Cote d'Ivoire and other African countries have great expectations to the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the summit of Chinese and African leaders to be held in Beijing in November.

 

Established in 2000, the China-Africa Cooperation Forum serves as a platform for China and African countries to expand political links and economic cooperation in the new century.

 

Coffie expressed the hope that the November meeting of the forum will yield substantial results that benefit both Chinese and African people.

 

Coffie said Cote d'Ivoire and China share a bright future in widening bilateral cooperation. He welcomes Chinese companies to invest and set up businesses in his country.

 

As Cote d'Ivoire struggled to advance peace process over the past few years, China has all along given its support to the country, Coffie said. Bilateral cooperation progressed smoothly in such fields as infrastructure, agriculture, trade, education, culture, finance and mining, he said.

 

Coffie said bilateral relations have been excellent since the two countries established diplomatic ties 23 years ago. Mutual respect, understanding and trust have become pillars of relations between Cote d'Ivoire and China as the two countries share same views on many regional and international issues, he said.

 

Coffie arrived in Beijing and assumed the office of ambassador on February 22. He said he was deeply impressed with the conversation with President Hu when presenting credentials to the Chinese leader.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)