Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with visiting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Beijing, capital of China, March 31, 2015. Museveni has been in China to attend the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia and for a state visit. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni here on Tuesday.

Calling Museveni an old friend of China, Li hailed the contribution he has made to China-Uganda relations and China-Africa relations.

China is ready to work with Uganda to consolidate their friendship, deepen cooperation and elevate their bilateral ties to a new high, according to Li.

He said China is willing to help Uganda speed up its industrialization and modernization process, share development experience, and promote the construction of airports, hydropower facilities and means of communication.

The premier also vowed to cooperate with east African countries to promote the construction of a railway network in the region.

Museveni thanked China for helping Uganda build urgently-needed projects such as a hydropower station and railway, and welcomed Chinese companies to join in Uganda's projects including energy, fertilizer, agricultural product processing and hydroelectric development, as well as the construction of the east African railway network.

Museveni was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit. He also attended the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia held in south China's Hainan province.