President Hu Jintao arrived in Abuja Wednesday on a two-day state visit to Nigeria at the invitation of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

In a written statement delivered upon arrival at the airport, Hu said although China and Nigeria are far apart from each other, the friendship between the two peoples dates back to a long time ago.

 

Since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 35 years ago, Hu said, bilateral relations have withstood the test of time and international changes, and entered a mature stage of sustained and steady development.

 

The Chinese side treasures bilateral relations, and will make concerted efforts with the Nigerian side to push forward bilateral friendship and cooperation, said Hu.

 

He said he is expecting to exchange in-depth views with Obasanjo on furthering bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

 

He said he hoped this visit will help enhance bilateral mutual understanding and trust, deepen bilateral traditional friendship, expand bilateral reciprocal cooperation in various fields and push forward the continuous growth of bilateral strategic partnership.

 

Sino-Nigerian trade hit US$2.83 billion in 2005, up 29.6 percent year on year.

 

Nigeria is the fourth leg of Hu's five-nation tour, which has already taken him to the United States, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, and will also take him to Kenya.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2006)