Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Malian counterpart Amoadou Toumany Toure met Thursday for talks on deepening bilateral ties.

Chinese diplomats said Hu and Toure were expected to exchange views on strengthening the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Before the talks started, Hu, who arrived earlier in the day on his first state visit to the west African nation, attended a welcoming ceremony hosted by the Malian president.

The two leaders are due to witness the sighing of bilateral cooperative deals and meet the press after their talks, according to the itinerary.

Hu, who is on a five-nation tour, flew in from Saudi Arabia, where he had concluded a state visit He will also visit Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius.