BEIJING - President Hu Jintao held talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Beijing on Wednesday morning.

After a welcoming ceremony for the Sudanese president, Hu and Bashir started their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

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"I believe your current trip will consolidate and develop the traditional Chinese-Sudanese friendship and promote substantial cooperation in various fields," Hu said at the beginning of the talks.

Bashir said that he appreciates China's hospitality and conveyed respect and well-wishes from the Sudanese people to the Chinese people.

"We hope that China will achieve greater development and progress in the future," he said.

The two heads of state are expected to sign a variety of agreements related to bilateral cooperation after the talks.

Bashir is also scheduled to meet with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday afternoon.