Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing Tuesday with visiting Ugandan Prime Minister Apollo Robin Nsibambi, extending the willingness to expand China-Uganda relations in the new century.

Hu said China had always regarded Uganda as a trustworthy friend and China was willing to keep frequent exchange of high-level visits, increase mutual political trust, expand economic cooperation and trade and consolidate the ties with Uganda.

The president said the Chinese people and the Ugandan people have profound traditional friendship and the China-Uganda ties have seen smooth expansion since the two established diplomatic relations over 40 years ago.

China appreciated and thanked Uganda for its long-term stance of adhering to the one-China policy and supporting China in international affairs, Hu said.

Transferring Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's warm greetings to Hu, Nsibambi said the long-term friendship between Uganda and China had brought concrete benefits to both the Ugandan and Chinese peoples.

Uganda would continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy and was willing to advance the bilateral ties into a new level, said the prime minister.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2003)