Chinese Vice-President Starts Cote d'Ivoire Tour 　　Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao wound up his three-day Ghanaian tour and arrived in Abidjan Thursday for an official visit to Cote d'Ivoire, the third leg of his 13-day four-nation African tour. 　　The Chinese vice-president came here from Accra by special plane as guest of the Cote d'Ivoire government, with Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan greeting Hu at the airport. 　　In his written statement upon arrival, Hu said since the two nations forged diplomatic ties 16 years ago, the China-Cote d'Ivoire relations have been proceeding smoothly under the care from leaders of the two nations and with concerted efforts by both sides. 　　Areas of bilateral cooperation are continuously expanding, especially in the economic and trade sectors which have scored remarkable results, Hu said. 　　"Continuing to consolidate and develop bilateral friendly relations of cooperation is in the interests of both peoples and keeping with the common aspiration of the two governments," he added. 　　He hoped that his current visit will serve to promote mutual understanding and friendship, and push bilateral friendly cooperative ties in a sustainable, healthy and steady way into the forthcoming century, he said. 　　Some other senior Cote d'Ivoire officials also went to the airport to greet Hu. 　　Accompanying Hu on the current African visit are Vice-Foreign Minister Ji Peiding and some other Chinese officials. 　　Later Thursday, Hu is scheduled to call on President Henri Konan Bedie. 　　After the visit here on January 31, Hu will proceed to South Africa, the last leg of his first African tour, which will end on February 4. HomeNews 1999-01-29 Page1 Full Story in Chinese