The following are highlights of the ongoing foreign tours by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday.

DAKAR -- Hu held talks with his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade here on Friday to discuss promotion of friendly and cooperative ties between China and the West African nation.

Hu said the bilateral relations have made progress in various fields since the resumption of diplomatic ties in 2005, and facts have proved that the China-Senegal friendship is in the fundamental interests of both nations and will have a promising future.

After the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation deals.

Senegal was the third leg of Hu's five-nation tour. He has visited Saudi Arabia and Mali. The week-long tour will also take him to Tanzania and Mauritius.

DAKAR -- Hu arrived in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Friday on the first state visit to this western African country.

Hu was received by his Senegalese counterpart Wade at a welcoming ceremony at the airport.

In a statement issued upon his arrival, Hu said both countries enjoy good friendship and the resumption of diplomatic ties helped the development of bilateral cooperation in politics, trade, culture, education and public health among others.

The visit is aimed at deepening mutual understanding and trust, promoting cooperation in various fields and moving bilateral relations to a new high, Hu said.

BAMAKO -- Hu ended his state visit to Mali and left Bamako on Friday for Dakar, Senegal, to continue his "journey of friendship and cooperation."

BAMAKO -- Hu and his Malian counterpart Amadou Toumany Toure inaugurated a China-aided bridge construction project in the capital of Bamako on Friday.

The bridge, the third one in Bamako, will be constructed by a Chinese company and will play an important role after its completion in the economic development of the western African country.

At the inauguration ceremony, the two leaders spoke highly of the project, saying it is the symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

BAMAKO -- Hu on Friday met with President of the Malian National Assembly Dioncounda Traore on deepening cooperation and friendship with the country.

Hu said the aim of his visit is to work together with Mali to review the past, look into the future, and to promote bilateral ties.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- Xi arrived here Friday afternoon to continue his official visit to Jamaica.

Xi flew here from Kingston, capital of Jamaica, where he held talks Thursday with Jamaican leaders on bilateral relations.

The vice president arrived in Kingston Wednesday for an official visit to Jamaica, which is the second leg of his six-nation tour. The trip has taken him to Mexico and will take him to Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

In Kingston, he held talks with Jamaican Governor-General Kenneth Hall, Senate President Oswald Harding, Delroy Chuck, president of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson-Miller, president of Jamaica's People's National Party.

KINGSTON -- Xi on Friday morning unveiled the first Confucius Institute established in the English-speaking Caribbean region.

Xi attended the unveiling ceremony for the Confucius Institute in the University of the West Indies at Mona in Jamaica.

In a speech delivered at the ceremony, Xi praised the establishment of the Chinese-language-promoting institution in Jamaica as a new achievement and a milestone in the progress of cultural and educational exchanges and cooperation between China and the Caribbean region.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2009)