LIBERIAN President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Angolan Prime Minister Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos arrived in Shenzhen separately Sunday, seeking closer economic ties with the city.

The two African leaders, who are in China to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation slated for Nov. 3-5, had separate meetings with Mayor Xu Zongheng.

Johnson-Sirleaf expressed her wish to establish economic cooperation between Shenzhen and Liberia, a country rich in natural resources. Liberia is actively seeking foreign investment to promote the country's reconstruction, and could learn a lot from Shenzhen, she said.

Johnson-Sirleaf said Liberia encourages foreign investors to participate in high-added-value projects like mineral mining and assembling, and infrastructure construction including hotel, transportation, and communications.

Dos Santos visited high-tech giants Huawei and ZTE, and Diwang Mansion, yesterday. During his meeting with Executive Vice Mayor Liu Yingli yesterday, dos Santos expressed his country's wish to cooperate with Shenzhen in the high-tech sector.

Johnson-Sirleaf, often referred to as the "Iron Lady," is Africa's first elected female head of state and the world's first elected black female president. Once a waitress, she graduated from Harvard University, spent 10 years in prison, and worked as an economist in exile. She was elected president in January 2006.

Born Oct. 29, 1938, the "Iron Lady" also had a memorable birthday celebration in Shenzhen on Sunday. When a banquet hosted by Xu was coming to an end, the tune of "Happy Birthday" sounded in the Wuzhou Guest House. Two waitresses presented a birthday cake and a bouquet of flowers to her.

"On behalf of Shenzhen and Shenzhen people, I wish you happy birthday," said Xu.

Editor: Yan