Beijing  - Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma arrived in Beijing Sunday for an official visit, local media reported.

During his seven-day stay, Koroma will meet with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinlin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Koroma will also visit China's Hunan Province and Shanghai, the report said.

The visit comes days after China's ambassador to Sierra Leone Qiu Shaofang disclosed plans to build two hydropower dams in the west African nation, according to news reports.

"Our cordial bilateral relations have grown from strength to strength and the Chinese people will never forget our Sierra Leonean friends who staunchly supported the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations," Qiu was reported as saying by the Sierra Leone-based Concord Times.

Qiu added that bilateral trade reached a record in 2008 with a total of 83.7 million dollars. This was an increase of 30 per cent on 2007, and of more than 470 per cent on 2002. (dpa)