Chinese President Hu Jintao put forward proposals for developing the relationship between China and Gabon in Beijing Wednesday during his talks with visiting Gabonese President El Habj Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Hu said China is ready to work with Gabon to maintain the good momentum of the development of bilateral relations.

In order to promote bilateral relations, Hu proposed that the two countries should push forward political communications and people-to-people exchanges, saying the two sides should further enhance mutual understanding and friendship so as to lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Secondly, Hu said the two countries should further tap into the potential of trade and economic cooperation and expand the scale of cooperation. He said China will continue to encourage strong and prestigious Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Gabon. He hoped the two sides to expand cooperation in such resources development areas as oil, mining and re-forestation. Also he hoped that they could explore such cooperative areas as agriculture, water conservancy and fishing.

Thirdly, Hu said the two countries should deepen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, culture and public health and step up collaboration in human resources development under the framework of China-Africa Forum.

Finally, Hu said the two countries should give a bigger role to the political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries so as to maintain sound cooperation and coordination on international affairs.

Hu said that China treasures its traditional friendship with Africa, and China firmly supports the development and revitalization of Africa. He said the China-Africa Forum has become an important platform for reinforcing solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa in the new situation. He said China is ready to join efforts with all African countries, including Gabon, to fully utilize this platform by strengthening all-round cooperation, continuously opening up new channels and adding new content to this cooperation, so as to lift the new partnership between China and Africa to higher standards.
 
Both Hu and Bongo expressed the willingness to further develop the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Hu said in the past three decades since the two countries established diplomatic links, both sides have understood and trusted each other and cooperate on an equal footing. He said China and Gabon has been good friends and good partners who have withstood the test of time.

Noting that an important consensus has been reached on developing bilateral relations under the new conditions during his visit to Gabon last February, Hu said bilateral exchanges and cooperation have shown new face of prosperity due to the joint efforts of both sides. Hu expressed his appreciation of Gabon's firm support to China on China's great cause of reunification and on international affairs.

Bongo agreed with Hu on his comments on bilateral relations. He reiterated Gabon's stance on firmly sticking to the one-China policy and its support to China's cause of reunification.

Bongo said President Hu's proposals on further developing bilateral relations are practical and feasible and bear profound significance on deepening bilateral cooperation. He said Gabon is working hard on development and construction of the country. He expressed his wish to strengthen cooperation with China in the development of such infrastructures as railway, highway, deep-water ports and hydropower stations.

Bongo briefed Hu about the current situation of Africa and the existing hot issues. Noting that China is a true friend of Africa, he said Gabon and other African countries wish to deepen cooperation with China and hope that China will play a bigger role in resolving the hot issues in Africa.

After the talks, the two heads of state attended the signing ceremony of a few documents between the governments of the two countries, including the agreement on economic and technological cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2004)