Xi praises co-op with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Microsoft founder Bill Gates before their meeting during the annual Boao Forum for Asia conference in Boao town, Hainan province April 8, 2013. [Photo / Agencies]

BOAO, Hainan - President Xi Jinping said Monday that China will deepen its cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Bill Gates, president of the foundation, at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia, which opened on April 6 in South China's Hainan province.

Xi said the cooperation between China and the foundation has yielded significant results in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as smoking control and tuberculosis prevention.

Bill Gates speaks during a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping (not in picture) at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference April 8, 2013. [Photo / Agencies]

"China should stick to the strategy of innovation-driven development to encourage and support innovation," Xi said.

Xi said China will make joint efforts with the organization to improve human health, eliminate poverty and bring greater benefits to the rest of the world.

Gates said Xi's recent visit to Africa showed China's willingness to facilitate Africa's development. He said that he has faith in China's efforts to seek greater development through innovation.

The foundation attaches high importance to China, Gates said, adding that he hopes to strengthen cooperation with China to aid other countries in the areas of agricultural development, poverty elimination and disease control.