Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) is greeted by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza (R) on arrival at the capital Maputo February 8, 2007. Hu wrapped up his tour of mainland Africa in Mozambique on Thursday. [Reuters]

MAPUTO: The Chinese and Mozambican presidents discussed further development of bilateral relations and exchanged views on international affairs of common concern, according to a joint communique issued yesterday.

The document was released after President Hu Jintao and his Mozambican counterpart Armando Emilio Guebuza held talks in Maputo.

The two leaders reached a broad consensus on implementation of initiatives agreed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the communique said.

The two nations hailed their traditional friendship, the sound development of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago, and cooperation in economic and social fields.

Mozambique reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China policy, and its opposition to "Taiwan independence" in any form, and Taiwan's accession to any international organization of sovereign states, it said.

Hu arrived in the Mozambican capital earlier in the day from South Africa for a state visit.

China and Mozambique have seen sound development of ties since the two countries forged diplomatic relations. In recent years, the two countries have had mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure, construction, agriculture and other areas.

Last year, China designated Mozambique a tourist destination in an effort to intensify bilateral cooperation in the tourism industry.

Hu is on the seventh leg of his eight-nation trip to Africa that has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa. He will also visit the Seychelles.

Xinhua

(China Daily 02/09/2007 page2)