Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday called on China and Africa to enhance mutual trust and cement the political foundation for traditional friendship.

China's President Hu Jintao (L) and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete wave to a crowd upon their arrival at the State House in Dar es Salaam February 15, 2009.?[China Daily/Agencies]

China is ready to have closer high-level exchanges with African countries and strengthen strategic dialogue through various consultation mechanisms, Hu said in a a key-note speech at a welcoming rally attended by people from various sectors in the Tanzanian capital.

China firmly supports the efforts of African countries, the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations to safeguard state sovereignty and independently resolve African issues, Hu said.

China will continue to be actively involved in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and play a constructive role in women, non-governmental groups, media organizations, and academic institutions of the two sides, and enhance human resources operation, he said.

The president also pledged to strengthen coordination with Africa in international affairs.

China will intensify cooperation with African countries in the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and other multilateral institutions, and jointly address such global issues as climate change, food security, poverty alleviation and development, he said.

China is ready to take part in the formulation of international economic, financial and trade rules and build a more equitable and reasonable international economic order together with African countries, he said.

China appreciates Africa's desire to increase its representation and say in reforming the international financial system and supports the AU's participation in the upcoming G20 financial summit in April in London.

The president also noted that China is ready to enhance coordination with Africa in jointly promoting the further development of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

China is ready to strengthen institutional building of the Forum and bring into full play its role of giving political guidance to the overall China-Africa relations, he said.

Tanzania is the fourth leg of Hu's week-long tour, which has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Mali and Senegal. He will later visit Mauritius before flying home on Tuesday.

This is Hu's sixth visit to Africa and his second since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, where he announced eight measures designed to forge a new type of strategic partnership with Africa.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2009)