On Sunday night local time, Premier Wen Jiabao and Ghanaian President John Kufuor agreed to expand mutually beneficial co-operation.

Both leaders witnessed the signing of a series of documents and agreements on partnership in economic development, trade, education and health following official talks on the second leg of his seven-nation African tour.

They also agreed to a low-interest loan of about US$ 66 million from China to Ghana for a number of projects, including a plan to upgrade Ghana's communications network by increasing phone lines and improving the country's Internet-access.

The plan also includes training students and workers in communications technology, Ghana's Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu told reporters after the meeting.

"This will help a great deal to expand employment opportunities in Ghana," Baah-Wireduwas was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. "And we are very grateful to the Chinese."

Trade between China and Ghana totalled US$769 million last year, up 30 per cent from the previous year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.

Wen arrived in the Ghanaian capital Accra Sunday afternoon on a two-day official visit to the West African nation, the second stop of his African tour, which has already taken him to Egypt and will take him on to the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

In a written statement delivered upon arrival at Accra International Airport, Wen said China and Ghana share profound traditional friendship.

"Over the past half century or so, the relationship between China and Ghana has withstood the test of time and changes in the international environment and registered strong growth," Wen said.

"I hope and strongly believe that my visit here will consolidate the traditional friendship, intensify the reciprocal political trust and promote mutually-beneficial co-operation."

Before winding up his visit, Wen attended a ceremony for the completion of a road in Ghana built with technical assistance and an interest-free loan provided by the Chinese Government.

The Chinese premier arrived in the Republic of Congo late yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo before flying to Ghana from Egypt, Wen hailed Sino-African ties of co-operation and stressed that oil trade between China and African countries is "normal."

"It is known to all that China has engaged in oil trade with several African countries, and such a trade relationship is open, transparent, normal and mutually beneficial," Wen told the reporters.

"I could say that oil trade volumes between China and African countries are less than one third of those enjoyed by some major countries," he said.

The Chinese premier said that China will take measures to promote African countries' exports to China and help African countries develop by themselves and offer training for African professionals.

(China Daily 06/20/2006 page2)