BEIJING, Aug. 19(Xinhuanet)--- China and Kenya issued a joint communique here Friday, pledging to further economic and political cooperation.

The communique was signed during Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki's state visit to China from Aug. 15 to 19 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The communique says Hu and Kibaki held discussions on a broad range of bilateral and international issues of common interest. During the visit, President Kibaki also met with Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Subsequent to the talks, the two sides signed five agreements. According to the communique, the agreements include an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two governments,a framework agreement between the two governments on provision of concessional loan by China to Kenya, an air services agreement, a collaborative agreement between the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China and the Kenya Bureau of Standard, and exchange of letters on radio cooperation between the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television of China and the Ministry of Information and Communication of Kenya.

The communique says the two leaders hailed the traditional friendship between China and Kenya, and expressed satisfaction with the momentum of the growth of the bilateral relations over the years.

The two sides agreed to deepen the bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two countries. They expressed their readiness to increase the exchange of high-level visits and political consultations with a view to enhancing mutual understanding within the framework of South-South Cooperation.

The communique says the two leaders pledged to cooperate and support each other on issues bearing on their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It says the Chinese side expressed its support for Kenya in her efforts to consolidate rule of law and develop its national economy. The Kenyan side reiterated that there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.

The Kenyan Government expressed its opposition to"Taiwan independence" in any form and expressed its support for China's efforts to realize national reunification, according to the communique.

The two leaders recognized the great potential in their economic cooperation and expressed their readiness to strengthen the cooperation taking into account the principle of equality and mutual benefit in key areas such as trade, investment and infrastructure.

Both leaders also agreed to expand exchanges of expertise and to cooperate in areas of culture, education, science and technology, health, tourism and aviation.

The two leaders agreed to work closely together on international issues and in particular on efforts to achieve a just and equitable new international political and economic order.

The communique says the Chinese side commended Kenya for its role in the mediation of conflicts and promotion of cooperation at regional and international levels and expressed its support for peace and reconstruction efforts in Sudan and Somalia.

It says Kibaki expressed his gratitude to Hu for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation and for the excellent arrangements made for his visit.

The communique says Kibaki extended an invitation to Hu to visit Kenya on mutually convenient dates and Hu expressed his appreciation for the invitation.

According to the communique, Kibaki was accompanied by a high-ranking Kenyan delegation that included Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Mwiraria, Minister for Finance, Raphael Tuju, Minister for Information and Communications, Musikari Kombo, Minister for Local Government, Amos Kimunya, Minister for Lands and Housing and Morris Dzoro, Minister for Tourism and Wildlife. Enditem