Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, on Thursday for a one-day state visit to the west African state.

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During his short stay in Monrovia, President Hu and his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will discuss ways of expanding friendly cooperation between China and Liberia.

Bilateral relations have developed well since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties in October 2003. The two countries have forged mutual political trust, respect and support, accelerated economic and trade cooperation and maintained close coordination on international affairs.

China strongly supports Liberia's peace process and economic reconstruction and appreciates its adherence to the one-China policy and support for China's reunification.

Last year, Johnson-Sirleaf paid a state visit to China and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

President Hu, who arrived here from Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, is on an eight-nation tour of Africa that will also take him to Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and
Seychelles.

Earlier, the Chinese president described his Africa trip as "a journey of friendship and cooperation."

China's voice in Africa Not just the UN but China has made a commitment to Africa. President Hu's current Africa trip shows African countries and the world that China is as good as its word.

He said his current visit to Africa is aimed at consolidating the traditional friendship between China and Africa, implementing the agreements reached at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last November, enlarging substantial cooperation and promoting common development.

At the Beijing Summit, leaders of China and 48 African countries agreed to establish and develop a new type of strategic partnership, featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges.