FM spokesman on Nigerian president's China visit, Sino- African ties

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday that China hopes Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's current visit to China can further advance Sino-Nigerian relations.

Qin briefed Obasanjo's ongoing visit at a routine news conference. Invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Obasanjo arrived here Thursday morning for a four-day state visit to China.

Obasanjo is visiting China in the capacity of both the Nigerian president and rotating president of the African Union, said Qin. During his visit, Obasanjo will confer with Chinese leaders on bilateral relations, Sino-African cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, and the two sides will also sign some cooperation documents.

Besides Beijing, Obasanjo will also travel to central Hubei Province and Shanghai metropolis in east China.

Commenting on Sino-African relations, Qin said it has made great achievements in recent years. China and African countries kept frequent high-level visits and their trade and economic cooperation has been expanded.

The establishment of China-Africa Cooperation Forum in the year 2000 has actively promoted mutual understanding and bilateral win- win cooperation, Qin acknowledged.

"China will, as always, expand its friendly cooperative relations with African nations on the basis of Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence," the spokesman said.