Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met Monday with Septimus Kai Kai, Sierra Leone's Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

Since China and Sierra Leone forged their diplomatic ties in 1971, Lu said, they have strengthened political mutual trust and kept expanding bilateral mutually-beneficial cooperation,

"China attaches great importance to its friendly ties with African countries," Lu noted. "It is the country's unswerving policy to consolidate and develop Sino-African friendship."

Kai said the government of Sierra Leone highly values its friendship with China.

Sierra Leone will continue to develop its friendly bilateral ties with China, he said. "This position is firm."

Kai has come to visit China at the invitation of the Information Office of the Chinese State Council, or the central government.

Source: Xinhua