China and Togo agreed to further expand trade ties during the Togolese president Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe's first China tour since he assumed presidency last May.

"Sino-Togolese relations have entered into a new stage of growth", Chinese president Hu Jintao told Faure in their talks Monday afternoon, proposing the two sides to improve economic and trade relations in spheres such as agriculture, infrastructure construction, telecommunication and power generation.

"Togo has become one of China's important trade partners in western Africa", the Chinese president noted.

In response to Hu's proposals, Faure said Togo is ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as economy, trade, telecommunication, science, technology and infrastructure in an bid to further promote Togo-China relations.

After the summit meeting, the two countries signed a series of economic and technological cooperation agreements.

In his talks with Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday afternoon, Faure highlighted that the bilateral cooperation in the fields of economic and trade, agriculture, power generation, culture and education and public health has substantially helped Togo's economic and social development.

The Togolese president called China an "old" and "true" friend of Togo when meeting with Chinese leaders.

Togo admires and is encouraged by the achievements China has scored in the economic construction and the country is ready to join hands with other African countries to cement friendly cooperation in various fields, Faure said.

Information from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce showed that China exports textiles, machinery and electronic products, and shoes to Togo and imports raw cotton from the country.

China also grants tariff-free treatment to Togo, which is regarded as the one of the most underdeveloped African countries.

Official statistics showed that the two-way trade reached 508 million US dollars in last Jan. to Nov., growing 27.54 percent over the same time last year.

On Tuesday morning, Faure canceled a scheduled sightseeing to the the Forbidden City and attended a meeting with Chinese business leaders and entrepreneurs instead, according to a source with Togolese delegation.

The president met with people from six Chinese enterprises covering oil and gas, telecom, mining and infrastructure construction sectors, which includes heads from the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), one of China's big three oil giants, the source added.

Faure arrived here last Sunday for a visit to China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. Besides Beijing, the Togolese president will also travel to Shaanxi Province in the northwest and Shanghai in east China.

Source: Xinhua