BEIJING, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- With his country's influence in Africa growing, Chinese President Hu Jintao rolled out a red-carpet welcome Friday to five visiting African presidents.
The African leaders are in China for a 2-day summit of the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). They are Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana.
Dozens of other African countries with which China has diplomatic countries also were expected to participate in the summit.
The report quoted Hu as saying the FOCAC is "a great undertaking in the history of China-Africa relations."
The summit will seek to draw up a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation, Hu said. The visitors said China has offered consistent and firm political and economic support to Africa.
The FOCAC was established in 2000 and since then "economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa has entered a new era, with comprehensive, rapid and stable development," Xinhua said.
