On February 13, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his state visit to Mali and left Bamako for Dakar, Senegal, to continue his "journey of friendship and cooperation".

President Hu arrived in Bamako on the afternoon of February 12 for a visit to Mali.

In Bamako, Hu had talks with his Malian counterpart Amadou Toumany Toure on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

During the talks, Hu said that the world is undergoing complicated and profound changes and China-Africa relations are at an important stage of development. In the face of the severe challenges posed by the global financial crisis, it is of greater significance to strengthen China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. On behalf of the Chinese government, Hu made the following solemn commitments. He said that China would seriously implement various policy measures on aid to Africa set at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China will strengthen its pragmatic cooperation with Africa by continuing to increase aid to African countries, cancel part of their debts, and expand trade and investment on the continent.

On China-Mali relations, Hu said bilateral relations will usher in a new era of development as next year marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. China cherishes its traditional friendship with Mali and is ready to take the opportunity to inherit the past and usher in the future in joint efforts to open up a new situation of China-Mali relations.

For his part, Toure said his country will build solidarity with China and strengthen friendly cooperation.

Mali established diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China in October 1960 and was among the first countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Over the past decades, despite the great changes in the international situation and the two countries’ domestic circumstances, China-Mali relations have been developing steadily, with close high-level exchanges and fruitful cooperation in economy, trade and other areas.

Mali is the second leg of President Hu’s current journey of friendship and cooperation to five Asian and African countries. From Mali, Hu will travel to other three African countries -- Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius. He visited Saudi Arabia at the start of his five-nation trip.