In a recent written interview with Xinhua, Pires said the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation would boost even further the development of economic cooperation between China and Africa.

Pires said he had appreciated the political decision by the Chinese government to further boost economic and trade ties with African countries based on the principles of mutual benefit and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa had yielded good fruit, and Africa was now presented with the opportunities of fast-growing economy and accelerated integration into the international system, the president said.

He said the trade volume between China and Africa was expected to hit 50 billion U.S. dollars in 2006 and Africa would see a growth rate of 7 percent in 2007, as estimated by the International Monetary Fund. This would undoubtedly contribute to the further development of economic ties between China and Africa.

Pires said China had become an important trade partner of Africa and the development of economic ties between China and Africa had become mutually beneficial.

The access of Chinese products into the African market had not only drawn the China-Africa trade ties closer but also raised the value of African raw materials, Pires said.

Furthermore, China and Africa had strengthened their cultural exchanges, which ultimately was conducive to enriching world civilization as a whole, the president said.

Regarding the friendly cooperation between China and his country, Pires said the two countries had enjoyed a long history of friendly cooperation, and that the relations between the two countries had been further consolidated and developed over the past years in politics, diplomacy, economy, sports and education.

Pires stressed that his country highly valued the developing ties between the two countries and that furthering such relations with China was a major strategic aim for the government of Cape Verde.

He believed that the two countries would continue to explore new means of cooperation. He also expressed the hope that China would invest more in Cape Verde.

Commenting on the forthcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation scheduled for Nov. 4-5, Pires said Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves would lead a delegation to attend the summit.

Noting that the Beijing summit served a good opportunity to learn more about the great potential of the Chinese market, Pires hoped that the delegation from his country would bring back entirely new ideas and constructive plans for further expanding and deepening economic ties between China and Cape Verde.