A proposed China-Africa ministerial-level conference to be held in Beijing this fall has received warm response from African friends, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao told visiting Ghanaian Foreign Minister James Victor Gbeho in Beijing January 27.

Gbeho had high praise for China's offer to host the "China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial-Level Conference in Beijing 2000" in October, describing it as "an important measure taken by China to strengthen its partnership with African countries under the new circumstances."

Gbeho told Hu that Ghana and other African countries will actively participate in the meeting.

Hu said the consolidation and development of ties with all developing countries, including those in Africa, constituted one of the key footholds of China's foreign policy.

In 1996 when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Africa, he proposed that a long-term relationship of all-round friendly cooperation between China and African countries be built, thus defining the direction of the future development of China-Africa ties in the long run, Hu said.

"With the concerted efforts, we believe Sino-African relations of friendly cooperation will definitely see new and greater development in the new century," Hu said.

The vice president recalled his Africa tour last year and his meetings with Ghanaian leaders. He lauded China's ties with Ghana, one of the first African countries to forge diplomatic relations with China.

During the past decades, Hu said, the two countries supported each other in safeguarding state sovereignty and building their own country. Also, the two countries carried out fruitful cooperation in political, economic, cultural, educational and other fields.

Bilateral ties saw further growth in recent years with frequent high-level visits, expanding economic cooperation and diversified cooperative ways and means, he noted.

With this 40-year history of diplomatic ties, China is willing to work with Ghana to bring bilateral ties to a new level in the 21st century, Hu said.

Gbeho spoke highly of China's achievements in all fields during the past 20-odd years. With similar historical experience and common missions to develop national economy and improve people's life, Gbeho said that his country could draw on China's development experience.

Regarding bilateral ties, he said that the Ghana-China friendship has stood the test of time and their relationship has been strengthened.

He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the Chinese government and people during the past years, and hoped both sides could further the unity and cooperation as they face the common challenges in the new century.

Gbeho offered his congratulations for the returns of Hong Kong and Macao. He reiterated that Ghana will adhere to its "one China" position and supported China's reunification efforts.