Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Saturday China is willing to expand cooperation and cement ties with its traditional friends in central Asia and Transcaucasia.

Hu made the remarks at the Great Hall of the People during a meeting with five heads of state from the region, appreciating their presence at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics Games on Friday night.

The leaders are Turkmenistani President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon.

They congratulated China on the successful opening of the Beijing Olympics on Friday, and appreciated the rewarding efforts made by the Chinese government and people in organizing the Games.

Hu said the concept of "One World, One Dream" put forth for the Beijing Games fully expresses the good aspiration of the people around the world to seek peaceful progress, friendly co-existence and harmonious development.

The Chinese president said he is confident the Beijing Olympics will be "distinctive" and "of high standards", with the strong assistance and active participation of the international society.

Calling them traditional friends of China, Hu said China has been building mutual political trust with the five countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 16 years ago.

Over the years China and these countries have supported each other on major issues of mutual concern and scored remarkable results in their cooperation in diverse fields, Hu said, adding that China is willing to work with the five countries to bring bilateral ties to a new height.

The five leaders expressed willingness to continuously strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields and to push forward bilateral relations between China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)