President Hu Jintao on Friday began a state visit to Seychelles on the last leg of his eight-nation African tour, and is to hold talks with the Seychellois president on expanding mutually-beneficial cooperation.

In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival, Hu described Seychelles as "a shining pearl in the Indian Ocean."

In recent years, under the leadership of President James Alix Michel, Hu said, the Seychellois government has steadily advanced reform, developed tourism, worked to improve people's living standards and actively pursued international cooperation, achieving remarkable success.

During the past 30 years of diplomatic ties, China and Seychelles have treated each other with respect and equality, and have made steady progress in their pragmatic cooperation in all fields, he added.

"I look forward to exchanging views with President James Alix Michel on bilateral relations and other major issues of mutual interest," he said. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

Hu's current trip to Africa has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2007)