China hopes to further expand economic and trade cooperation with Equatorial Guinea, President Hu Jintao told visiting Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Beijing on Saturday.

During a meeting with Obiang after the opening ceremony of the two-day Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Hu said China hopes to strengthen cooperation with Equatorial Guinea in some key areas including infrastructure construction and bring real benefit to the two peoples.

The economic and trade departments of the two countries have begun to carry out the framework agreement on bilateral economic and trade cooperation, according to Hu.

Obiang said his country gives priority to developing mutually beneficial cooperation with China. He also encouraged the enterprises of the two countries to strengthen cooperation.

Obiang arrived in Beijing Wednesday for the milestone summit in China-Africa history, which drew leaders and senior officials of 48 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

Equatorial Guinea established diplomatic relations with China on October 15, 1970. Obiang visited China in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Bilateral trade totaled 1.457 billion U.S. dollars in 2005.

Source: Xinhua