BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sierra Leonean President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah arrived here Thursday 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 commence on Nov. 4.

    China and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971. Vice President of Sierra Leone Solomon Berewa visited China in 2006. Bilateral trade topped 32.12 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

    The Sierra Leonean president is also expected to visit central China's Henan Province after the summit.