Chinese President Heads to Liberia on African Tour

Chinese President Hu Jintao is heading to Liberia Thursday as part of an eight-nation tour of Africa aimed at strengthening Beijing's already close economic ties to the continent.

Mr. Hu left for Liberia from Cameroon, where he signed a series of economic agreements, including more than 54 million dollars in loans. He will be the first Chinese leader to visit Liberia since the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations in 2003.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told China's state run news agency Xinhua she believes her country can learn from China's policies to boost its own economic development.

President Hu will also make stops in Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles. It is his third trip to Africa since taking office in 2003.

中国国家主席胡锦涛访问非洲八国，星期四前往利比里亚。这次访问的目的是进一步加强北京跟非洲大陆已经紧密的经济联系。

胡锦涛离开喀麦隆前往利比里亚。他在喀麦隆签署了一系列经贸协议，包括总额5400万美元的贷款。他将是中国和利比里亚2003年恢复邦交以来访问利比里亚的第一位中国领导人。

利比里亚总统瑟利夫接受中国官方的新华社采访时说，她相信利比里亚可以学习中国的政策，推动利比里亚的经济发展。

胡锦涛此行还将访问苏丹、赞比亚、纳米比亚、南非、莫桑比克和塞舌尔。这是他2003年上台后第三次访问非洲。