Roundup: China's top political adviser in Gabon to promote ties

China's top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng is wrapping up his official visit to Gabon on Wednesday, where he has met with Gabonese leaders to discuss how to enhance relations between China and the African country.

Yu met with Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba on Monday, expressing China's willingness to work with the Gabonese side to fully implement the consensus and the ten cooperation projects agreed upon between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bongo at last year's Johannesburg summit.

Gabon is China's traditional friend and an important cooperation partner in Africa, with fruitful bilateral cooperation in all fields, said Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He suggested the two sides relate China's development concepts of innovation, coordination, environmental friendliness, openness and sharing, which are highlighted in the country's 13th Five-Year Plan, to Gabon's development goals of "Green Gabon, Industrial Gabon, Service Gabon," and deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Yu also encouraged the two countries to strengthen coordination and cooperation on issues such as climate change and peace and security in Africa, and protect the common interests of developing nations.

Bongo expressed his gratitude to China for supporting Gabon's economic development, saying Gabon is willing to learn from China's experience of development and reform, and continue to enhance bilateral cooperation in fields such as forestry, agriculture, infrastructure, energy resources, tourism, peace and security.

Meeting with Gabonese Senate Speaker Lucie Milebou on Monday, Yu said that the CPPCC is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with the Gabonese Senate, and welcomes more Gabonese members of parliament to visit China to explore ways to promote bilateral ties with the Chinese side.

The China-Gabon friendship, forged by the two nations' leaders of previous generations, has stood the test of time and remains highly valuable, Yu noted.

He said that China is appreciative of Gabon's insistence on the One China policy, and its steadfast support for China's core interests.

Yu said that Chinese President Xi's proposal for upgrading China-Africa ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation has been well received by Africa and would unleash greater potential for bilateral cooperation.

China is willing to work with Gabon to promote bilateral ties in politics, economy, people-to-people exchanges and international affairs, Yu said. He added that both sides should maintain their high-level exchanges and boost collaboration in energy, transportation, electricity, agriculture, culture and education.

He also added that China welcomes more Gabonese students to come to China for exchanges, so as to cultivate more talents for Gabon's future development.

Milebou said that the two nations boast remarkable relations and have seen frequent exchanges between their top leaders. Trade ties are booming, he said.

He added that Gabon is grateful for China's support for education, public health and major infrastructure projects.

Gabon wishes to work with China in promoting its Strategic Plan for Emerging Gabon, said the Senate speaker.

He also noted that both countries are on the same page regarding efforts to create world peace and security as well as climate change.

In his meeting with Gabonese Prime Minister Daniel Ona Ondo on Tuesday, Yu said that China and Gabon keep a long-term friendship and close high-level exchanges, which have laid a solid political foundation for bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

China will make efforts to implement the development concepts of innovation, coordination, environmental friendliness, openness and sharing during its 13th Five-Year Plan period, which highly tally with Gabon's development goals of "Green Gabon, Industrial Gabon and Service-intensive Gabon".

The two sides should align their development strategies, deepen cooperation in such fields as agriculture and forestry, infrastructure, energy, and green development, in a bid to help Gabon achieve diversified economic development and enhance its own development capacity, Yu said.

Ondo appreciated China's long-term assistance to Gabon's economic development, saying Gabon is willing to further expand its cooperation with China in such fields as transport and communications, electric power and energy.

Expressing welcome to more Chinese companies to invest in Gabon, Ondo said that Gabon expects China will continue to support Gabon's implementation of diversified development strategies, and help Gabon speed up its industrialization process, and enhance its agricultural technologies.

Meeting with the president of the Gabonese National Assembly, Richard Onouviet, Yu expressed China's willingness on Tuesday to engage with the Gabonese National Assembly on issues such as national governance and development.

China and Gabon have both maintained political and social stability in their respective countries and focused on economic development to improve people's livelihood, said Yu.

Both countries say that they are dedicated to implementing the cooperation projects agreed upon during last year's Johannesburg summit. Yu said that efforts should be made to help companies from both countries realize their full potential.

He also suggested that the two governments better their communication to promote their business climate.

Yu said that companies from both countries should abide by local laws and contribute to local economic and social development.

For his part, Onouviet said that Gabon and China enjoy a deep friendship and pragmatic ties.

He expressed his gratitude to China for its generous support for Gabon's major projects in such areas as energy resources and infrastructure.

Onouviet said that the Gabonese National Assembly attaches great importance to its relationship with China and he expected to see deeper economic ties with China.

Yu is paying an official goodwill visit to Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana on April 10-20, according to a press release from China's top political advisory body. Endi