China and Nigeria vowed to deepen ties on Thursday, one day after the two countriesfinalized accords to finance development in Nigeria.

Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to "boostmutual political trust and deepen comprehensive cooperation" during their meeting atthe Great Hall of the People, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Cooperation between Beijing and Abuja is in the front line of China's cooperation withAfrican nations, Li said.

Jonathan is on a four-day state visit that started on Tuesday, as he strives to boosttrade ties between Asia's economic locomotive and Africa's biggest oil producer.

He has brought along about a dozen of his cabinet ministers, as well as several stategovernors, senior government officials and businesspeople.

He Wenping, a researcher of African studies at the Chinese Academy of SocialSciences, said the visit came after Jonathan declared an emergency in three states innorthern Nigeria in May due to terrorist attacks that have left more than 200 peopledead.

Gunmen attacked a Nigerian boarding school on Saturday, dousing a dormitory in fueland lighting it ablaze as students slept. At least 30 people were killed.

"That Jonathan insisted on the scheduled China visit under such domestic pressureindicates the importance he has attached to relations with China," said He.

Niu Xinchun, a senior expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary InternationalRelations, said the fact that Jonathan has brought his defense minister to China, whichis not common for African leaders visiting China, suggests Abuja wants to improvesecurity cooperation with Beijing.