ABUJA, May 6 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived here Tuesday for a visit to Nigeria, the second leg of his first Africa visit since he took office in 2013.

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and is an important partner of China in the continent, Li said in a statement issued upon his arrival.

China and Nigeria have maintained close high-level communication and the bilateral strategic partnership has been advancing, said Li.

"I am looking forward to holding in-depth exchanges with Nigerian leaders on bilateral ties and issues with common concerns," he said, hoping that his visit will help promote traditional friendship, chart the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and boost bilateral ties.

The Chinese premier is scheduled to attend the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa and meet African leaders in the Nigerian capital.

He will also meet Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Before Nigeria, Li went to Ethiopia, where he visited the headquarters of the African Union and delivered a speech there to expound China's Africa policy.

Li will also travel to Angola and Kenya during his four-nation Africa tour.