Chinese President Hu Jintao said Thursday that China and Africa should strengthen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation in order to open up new prospects for China-Africa partnership.

Hu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Hu said that China and Africa should strengthen political mutual trust, including carrying forward traditional friendship, maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhancing strategic dialogue, increasing experience, sharing on governance, doing away with external interference and deepening mutual understanding and trust.

"China will staunchly support African countries in upholding peace and stability and seeking strength through unity," Hu said. "China will play a positive and constructive role in African affairs," Hu added.

Hu also said that China and Africa should expand areas and explore cooperation in more fields, including agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and other priority development areas in Africa.

"We should work harder to carry out advanced cooperation in investment, finance, services and technology transfer, and improve trade mix and upgrade trade in order to benefit more people," Hu said.

Moreover, both sides should redouble efforts to help African countries enhance capacity for self development, Hu said.

Hu said that China and Africa should increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and encourage exchanges and interactions between the two sides in education, culture, science and technology, health, sports and tourism.

Both sides should also increase contacts between youth, women, people's organizations, media and academic institutions in order to provide intellectual inspiration and cultural support for China-Africa cooperation and win greater support for China-Africa friendship, Hu said.

China and Africa should increase coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations to promote democracy in international relations and balanced global development, Hu said.

"Both sides should oppose the practices of the big bullying the small, the strong domineering over the weak, and the rich oppressing the poor," Hu said.

"We should step up consultation and coordination accommodate each other's concerns and work together to meet global challenges on climate change, food security and sustainable development," Hu added.

Hu noted that China and Africa should make FOCAC stronger and motivate its members and fully tap their enthusiasm and creativity in order to enhance the cohesion and influence of FOCAC, and make it a more effective platform for cooperation.

"We should develop new thinking and new forms of cooperation to enhance FOCAC in the light of the latest international developments and new progress in the growth of China-Africa relations," Hu said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2012)