VICTORIA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday began a state visit to Seychelles on the last leg of his eight-nation African tour, and is to hold talks with the Seychellois president on expanding mutually-beneficial cooperation.

In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival, Hu described Seychelles as "a shining pearl in the Indian Ocean."

In recent years, under the leadership of President James Alix Michel, Hu said, the Seychellois government has steadily advanced reform, developed tourism, worked to improve people's living standards and actively pursued international cooperation, achieving remarkable success.

During the past 30 years of diplomatic ties, China and Seychelles have treated each other with respect and equality, and have made steady progress in their pragmatic cooperation in all fields, he added.

"I look forward to exchanging views with President James Alix Michel on bilateral relations and other major issues of mutual interest," he said. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

The Chinese president flew in from the Mozambican capital Maputo, winding up a two-day visit there.

In Maputo, Hu held talks with Mozambican President Armando Emilio Guebuza on Thursday. They had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations as well as major global and regional issues of common concern and reached a broad consensus.

Hu said China and Mozambique have developed a profound traditional friendship and have had fruitful cooperation in economy and trade, culture, education and health in their 31 years of diplomatic relations.

To uplift the bilateral relations, Hu proposed that China and Mozambique enhance the exchanges of high-level visits and mutual political trust, deepen their economic cooperation, strengthen the cultural and people-to-people interactions and boost their coordination in international affairs.

Guebuza said that the Chinese government and people have given vital support to the Mozambican people when they faced difficulties, and the two countries have cemented their friendly relations since the independence of Mozambique. He reiterated that Mozambique adheres to the one-China policy.

During the visit, the two sides signed accords on a partial relief of Mozambique's debts to China, the construction of Mozambique's national stadium and the establishment of an agricultural technology demonstration center in Mozambique, among other things.

Hu's current trip to Africa has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique.