President Hu Jintao and Mozambican President Armando Emilio Guebuza agreed Wednesday to further improve bilateral relations.

The two leaders held talks on the fringes of the summit on the 60th anniversary of the UN's establishment.

Hu said Guebuza is an "old friend" of the Chinese people and has made positive contributions to the development of the Sino-Mozambican relations.

The profound friendship the two peoples built during the Mozambican people's struggle for national liberation has laid a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations, said Hu.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, bilateral ties have seen smooth development, with high-level leaders maintaining close contacts, mutual political trust enhanced and bilateral cooperation in such fields as economics and trade, culture and education as well as public health yielding fruitful results, said Hu.

The two countries have also shown mutual understanding and cooperated closely in international affairs, Hu added.

He stressed that China attaches importance to developing Sino-Mozambican relations and is willing to strengthen high-level contacts, expand cooperation in economics and trade and step up exchanges in various fields.

Guebuza also spoke highly of bilateral ties. He said the Sino-Mozambican friendship has a solid foundation. The Mozambican people have got firm support from the Chinese people both during the years of war when the Mozambican people struggled for national liberation and in the era of economic development following Mozambique's independence. And he is delighted with the rapid development of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Both leaders had an in-depth discussion on how to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Hu agreed to Guebuza's suggestion regarding the promotion of bilateral cooperation in such areas as agriculture, seawater aquaculture and infrastructure construction.

Hu said both countries have a great potential in agricultural cooperation as Mozambique has good natural conditions that are favourable to agricultural development and China has mature technologies and experiences in agricultural production that are suitable for Mozambique.

The two presidents also exchanged views on the topics under discussion at the UN summit and the results that have been achieved at the conference.

They shared the view that the summit has made many important decisions regarding such issues as implementing the 2000 UN Millennium Development Goals and UN reforms, which will benefit the settlement of problems related to development and push the UN to play a bigger role.

They said that reforms are necessary for the UN and its Security Council, but a broad consensus must be built upon any reform plans through extensive democratic consultations so as to safeguard the unity of the UN member states and to give a better play to the UN's important role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2005)