Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday held talks with Joao Bernardo Vieira, president of Guinea Bissau, who is in Beijing for the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics scheduled for Wednesday.

"The people of our two countries have always supported each other, and have forged deep brotherhood and friendship. The bilateral relations have developed swiftly with progress in many fields," Hu told the guest.

Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) shakes hands with Joao Bernardo Vieira, president of Guinea Bissau, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 16, 2008. President Vieira will attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics scheduled for Wednesday. [Xinhua Photo]

Hu expressed appreciation of Guinea Bissau's adherence to the one-China policy, as well as its support to China on issues like Taiwan and Tibet.

He said that the Chinese side is willing to advance the bilateral relations through enhancing political trust, carrying out intergovernmental cooperative projects, broadening business cooperation, and developing new collaborations in health care and human resources training.

President Vieira said that his country looks forward to more cooperation with China in such fields as communications, trade, investment, energy and infrastructure construction.

Guinea Bissau will steadfastly support China's stance on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, Vieira promised.

The Chinese president pointed out that it was China's long-term strategic choice to consolidate and develop friendly cooperation with the African countries.

China remains committed to implementing the agreements reached at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2006, and will push forward the China-Africa new strategic partnership in a down-to-earth manner, he added.

After the talks, both leaders attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two sides.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2008)