Tools: Save | Print | E-mail
Bilateral relations between China and Gabon
Posted: November-3-2008Adjust font size:

A. General Picture of Bilateral Relations between China and Gabon

In December 1960, Gabonever "established diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan Authority and "severed the diplomatic relations" with it in March 1974. On April 20 that year China established diplomatic relations with Gabon and afterwards the friendly relations of cooperation between the two countries saw a favorable development. The two sides scored effective achievements in political, economic, diplomatic and cultural and educational aspects and in medical and health work as well.

B. Bilateral Political Relations

Chinese leaders and officials who paid visits to Gabon include: Chen Muhua, Vice-premier of the State Council (August 1978), Gong Dafei, Vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (October 1981), Zhao Ziyang, Premier of the State Council (January 1983), Wu Xueqian, Vice-premier of the State Council (March 1990), Qian Qichen, Member of the State Council and concurrently minister of foreign affairs (January 1993), Li Lanqing, Vice-premier of the State Council (November 1995), Tian Cengpei, Vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 1996), Li Peng, Premier of the State Council (May 1997), Chen Jinhua, Vice-chairman of the NPPCC (July 2000), Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (January 2001) and Wei Jianxing, member of the central CPC standing committee, etc.

Leaders and officials who visited China from Gabon include: El Hadj Omar Bongo, President (all together 8 times of visit respectively in October 1974, June 1975, May 1977, December 1978, October 1983, February 1987, May 1991 and August 1996), Konighi Okoumab D'okwatsegue, Minister in charge of foreign affairs and cooperation of the presidential office (June to July 1974), Edmond N'Kogho, Chairman of the economic and social council (June 1994), Marcel-Eloi Chamberier-Rahandi, Speaker of the National Assembly (July 1994), Casimir Oye Mba, Prime minister (September 1994), Jean Ping, Minister of foreign affairs and cooperation and in charge of the affairs for French speaking countries (April 2000), Ali Bongo, Minister of National Defence (April 2001), Louis Gaston Mayila, Chairman of the economic and social council (November 2001), Paul MBA Abessole, Minister of Human Rights and State Affairs (September 2002).

From October 10 – 12, 2000, Jean Ping, Gabon minister of foreign affairs and cooperation and in charge of the affairs for the French speaking countries together with Jean-François Ndongou, representative at ministerial level in charge of finance, economy and privatization came to attend the Beijing Ministerial Meeting 2000 of the Sino-African Cooperation Forum.

On November 18, 2002, the newly-appointed Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Gabon presented the credential to Omar Bongo, President of the Republicof Gabon.

C. Bilateral economy and trade relations and economic and technological cooperation

The major projects aided by Chinafor Gaboninclude: health-work center, primary school and national assembly building. The inaugurating ceremony for the construction of assembly building aided by China was set off in January 2003. The two sides also have cooperation and implementation in many such productive projects as fishery, pharmacy, forest development and timber processing and so on. The Chinese companies as China Construction, China Broadcasting and some other international companies from Dalian, Tianjinand Jiangsuhave developed cooperation of mutual benefits one after another with Gabon. The year of 2002 witnessed a bilateral trade value to reach US$ 237 million between the two countries, of which the Chinese exports occupied US$ 4.7 million. The major exports from Chinato Gabonare: textile, mechanic and electric products while the imports mainly include timbers, petroleum and manganese ores. The two countries signed an "Agreement on Investment Protection between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of the Republicof Gabon".

In December 2002, the two countries of Chinaand Gabonsigned an agreement for Chinato provide the latter with non-interest loans.

D. Other exchanges and cooperation

Since 1975 Chinastarted to provide Gabonwith scholarship for higher education and now a quota of 11 scholarships is provided every year with a total of 48 students from Gabonto study at present in China. In April 1986, the two countries signed a protocol for Chinato send teachers to teach in Gabon, in line of which Chinahas now sent 5 teachers to teach in the high schools in Gabon.

In June 1975, the two governments signed a protocol for Chinato dispatch medical team to work in Gabonwith the work being carried out in 1977, and the medical team with 27 personnel in total is working respectively in Librevilleand Franceville.

In March 1979, a military friendly delegation headed by Liao Hansheng, Political Commissar of the Nanjing Military Zone paid a visit to Gabon. In August 1993, a military delegation headed by Lieutenant General Zhang Taiheng, Commander of the Jinan Military Zone paid a visit to Gabon. In September 1997, General Idriss Ngari, Gabonminister of national defence and security, immigration and post and communications visited China. In March 1999, a Chinese military delegation headed by Qian Shugen, Deputy-chief of the general staff visited Gabon. In March 2001, Ali Bongo, Gabonminister of national defence visited China. In September 2002, a Chinese military delegation headed by Jiang Futang, Political Commissar of the Shenyang Military Zone paid a visit to the Republicof Gabon

In November 2002, Deng Nan, Vice-minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology visited Gabon. In February 2003, René Ndemezo, minister in connection with the assembly visited China. In March the same year Martin Mabala, Minister resident of the Prime minister's office in charge of supervision, examination, anti-corruption and anti-corruption affairs paid a visit to China.

E. Important bilateral agreement

The Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Gabon(April 20, 1974)

In consideration of the mutual benefits and respective wishes of the two countries the People's Republic of China and the Republicof Gabonon friendly consultation unanimously decided to establish the diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level and send ambassadors to each other side.

The government of the Republic of Gabon recognizes that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole and legal government representing the Chinese people as a whole.

The governments of the two countries agreed to develop friendly and cooperative relations on the principles of mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

Source: fmprc.gov.cnEditor: Lydia
Tools: Save | Print | E-mail
Related topics