Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Sierra Leonean counterpart Ahmed Tejan Kabbah on Friday in Beijing, saying China is willing to make joint efforts with the western African country to further bilateral cooperation.

The relations between China and Sierra Leone, established over 30 years ago, have developed smoothly on the basis of equality, mutual respect and trust, Hu said, adding the volume of bilateral trade has also be on a continuous rise.

Kabbah, who is here to attend the upcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) slated for Nov. 4-5, expressed his gratitude for China's support to help Sierra Leone realize its peace and stability.

Sierra Leone is under economic reconstruction and willing to see cooperation with China in trade, investment, infrastructure building and health, Kabbah said.

Forty eight African countries that have diplomatic relations with China are to participate in the two-day summit focusing on " friendship, peace, cooperation and development".

FOCAC is a mechanism for collective dialogue and cooperation jointly established by China and Africa to cope with new challenges and facilitate common development.

Since FOCAC was established in 2000, economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa has entered a new era, with comprehensive, rapid and stable development.

On Friday morning alone, Hu rolled out red carpet at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing to welcome presidents of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Ghana. He is scheduled to meet with another five African presidents later Friday.

Source: Xinhua