President Hu Jintao said Monday that China will take steps at home and intensify cooperation with African countries to combat the global economic downturn.

Addressing more than 1,200 college students, professionals, businesspeople, industrialists and people from other sectors in Tanzania's capital, Hu said: "During times of adversity, it is all the more important for China and Africa to support each other, and work and tide over the difficulties together."

Hu's keynote speech, entitled "Work Together to Write a New Chapter of China-Africa Friendship", is widely considered the most important during his five-nation tour.

"To strengthen friendship and cooperation between China and Africa is a noble mission entrusted to us by history," Hu said to an applause from the audience.

The policy measures China has adopted to boost domestic demand in order to combat the economic downturn "will not only lend a strong impetus to its own economic development, but also help the global economy grow", he said.

Hu reiterated that China would encourage Chinese firms operating in Africa "to shoulder more social responsibility and forge friendly ties with local communities."

China will resolve the issues that arise out of its cooperation with African countries through proper consultation to maintain the larger interest of "our friendly ties", he said. China wants its youth, women, NGOs, media organizations and academic institutions to have closer links with their counterparts in African countries.

Hu said the African Union should participate in the G20 financial summit. China "wishes to take part in the formulation of global economic, financial and trade rules and, with the help of African countries, build a more equitable and reasonable international economic order."

Applauding Hu's speech, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said: Some people always ask "why China?"

"My answer would be 'why not'," he said, "because "China understands our situation and compliments our efforts We cherish our ties and do everything possible to take them to new heights."