China-Gabon: Beijing strengthens support for mining and security
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Club of Mozambique
Illustrative image · Jakub Pabis · Pexels · Licence PexelsChina and Gabon elevated their bilateral relations during President Brice Oligui Nguema's state visit to Beijing, with strengthened cooperation in mining and security. Beijing pledged to help Gabon turn its resources into a driver of development, according to a statement cited by Xinhua.
China and Gabon have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mining and security sectors and elevate their diplomatic relations to a community of shared future for a new era. The commitment is contained in a joint statement published on Friday by China's official Xinhua news agency, during Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's state visit to Beijing.
The two countries plan to intensify political and governmental exchanges, as well as relations between their political parties, legislative institutions and local authorities. Beijing has pledged to support Gabon in transforming its natural resources into drivers of development. The two governments also want to develop exchanges between their armed forces, police services and security agencies. Cooperation is also to extend to trade, education and public health.
During his meeting with Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented his country as a reliable partner in Gabon's independent development, according to Chinese state media. The rapprochement is thus intended to consolidate relations between the two governments beyond economic exchanges alone.
The statement follows the six cooperation agreements signed between Gabon and China on 6 November. On 8 November, Libreville also announced that it had secured 300 million Chinese yuan and nine agreements concerning, in particular, SOGARA, Gabon's national refinery, and the Belinga iron ore deposit (funding and agreements secured in Beijing).
