Gabon

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The friendly and cooperative relations between the People's Republic of China and the Gabonese Republic developed steadily in 2013.

Political exchanges maintained good momentum. In March, President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba and President of the Gabonese National Assembly Guy Nzouba Ndama sent congratulatory messages to President Xi Jinping and NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang respectively on their elections. The CPC Central Committee sent congratulatory messages to the Gabonese Democratic Party on the 45th anniversary of its establishment in March and on its 10th Ordinary Congress in April. Also in April, President Fri Bongo Indiana and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophony, NEPAD, and Regional Integration Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet sent letters of condolences to President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi respectively after an earthquake hit Lushan, Sichuan Province on 20 April.

Progress was made in business exchanges and cooperation. In May, Gabonese Minister of Digital Economy, Communications and Post Blaise Louembe attended the Second Session of Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services and Global Services Forum-Beijing Summit in China. Within the year, the construction of the Port Gentil-Omboue coastal road and the Booué Bridge over the Ogooué River was launched; the first stage of the safety upgrading and renovation of the Libreville power grid was concluded; the construction of the Boubala hydro-power station entered the final stage; and smooth progress was made in the construction of two primary schools assisted by China.

Non-governmental and people-to-people exchanges maintained good momentum. In March, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) Feng Zuoku led a delegation to Gabon. Also in March, a delegation of the Union of Women of the Gabonese National Assembly paid a visit to China at the invitation of the All-China Women's Federation. In April, the Secretary-General of the Presidency of Gabon Laure Olga Gondjout visited China at the invitation of the CPAFFC. In June, a delegation of the China-Africa Business Council attended the second session of the New York Forum Africa in Gabon. In August, China and Gabon signed a cooperation agreement on broadcasting Chinese TV series in French on the Gabon Television.