Li Keqiang offers aid to Mali president

China is willing to work with West African countries in fighting the Ebola virus and contributing to the health of mankind, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting with Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Wednesday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on the sidelines of the 2014 New Leaders Meeting of the World Economic Forum, or the Summer Davos, in North China's Tianjin city on Sept 10, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li conveyed the cordial greetings of President Xi Jinping to Keita, who is in China to participate in the Summer Davos Forum in North China's Tianjin municipality.

Li said China is deeply worried about the suffering of the African people who have been infected with the deadly virus. China has provided materials and sent medical experts to virus-affected areas.

He noted that the relationship between China and Mali has remained unshaken, becoming even stronger over the past years.

Beijing is willing to expand cooperation with Bamako in fields including agriculture, mining and infrastructure, and China will continue to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Mali, the premier said.

Keita expressed his thanks and asked Li to convey his warm greetings to President Xi.

Keita said China has always been a reliable friend of Mali and other African countries. He thanked China for its support in promoting African development as well as its assistance in the fight against Ebola.

Mali is willing to jointly work with China to push forward bilateral ties and Africa-China relations in the future, he said.