BEIJING - Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana arrived here on Friday morning for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

A total of 48 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China are to participate in the two-day summit, which is scheduled to start on Nov. 4.

Marc Ravalomanana visited China in 2004 and he also paid a working visit with a business promotion delegation to Hong Kong in April.

China and Madagascar established diplomatic relations on Nov. 6,1972. Bilateral trade amounted to 197 million US dollars in 2005.