President Hu meets Kufuor ...

.. and 4 other African presidents in Beijing

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao rolled out red carpet here Friday morning at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, to welcome five presidents of African countries, who were here for a two-day China-Africa summit.

Hu met, on separate occasions, with five African presidents, including Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Congo, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana.

Hu extolled the upcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, saying it is a great undertaking in the history of China-Africa relations.

At the two-day summit slated for Nov. 4-5, leaders of China and African countries will review the development of China-Africa relationship and blueprint the future cooperation, Hu said.

The Chinese president said the summit will have a significant impact on enhancing mutual understanding and trust between China and African leaders, deepening traditional friendship, bolstering pragmatic cooperation and promoting South-South cooperation.

He also expressed China's appreciation to the five countries for their adherence to the one-China policy and "precious support" to China in international affairs.

Presidents of the five countries said China, who has been offering consistent and firm political and economic support to Africa , was seen as a favorable partner by African people.

The presidents agreed the Beijing Summit, with its significant impact on China-Africa relations, were warmly supported by the governments and people of their countries, saying they hope African countries and China will make full use of the summit and draw up future cooperative plans to achieve common development.

Hu is expected to meet with another five presidents of African countries in the afternoon.

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