Chinese president holds talks with Gabonese president

President Xi Jinping proposed the elevation of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Gabon to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as he hosted visiting Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi told the Gabonese leader, who is on a four-day state visit, that China wishes the country still greater progress in all its endeavors and early realization of its strategic goal toward an Emerging Gabon.

Xi addressed President Bongo as an old friend of the Chinese people, saying he is the first African head of state he has hosted after being reelected as Chinese president.

The visit was a demonstration of the importance and high level of China-Gabon relations, he said. The two sides are set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, and over the last half-century the China-Gabon friendship has stayed rock-firm as ever, he said.

In a world undergoing profound changes, China and Gabon have supported each other in advancing their shared interests and upholding international fairness and justice, the president said.

The strong and sustained growth of bilateral ties serves the interests of both countries and has an exemplary role to play in building a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.