Xi Jinping holds talks with Gabonese President Nguema

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 6 (Reporter Wen Xin) On the afternoon of November 6, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Gabonese President Nguema, who was in China for a state visit. The leaders of the two countries jointly announced that they would upgrade the positioning of bilateral relations to a China-Canada community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Gabon have a long-standing traditional friendship, which was created and carefully cultivated by the older generation leaders of the two countries. The two countries insist on treating each other as equals, supporting each other and seeking common development. The bilateral relations have withstood the test of international storms and have remained as solid as a rock. Currently, the world's changes that have occurred over the past century are accelerating. China is comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization, and Gabon has also entered a new stage of national development and revitalization. Continuously deepening China-Canada relations is in line with the common expectations of the two peoples and conforms to the general trend of the global South to unite and strengthen itself. China is willing to be a reliable friend and partner for Gabon's independent development, support Gabon's political, economic and diplomatic independence, and work with Gabon to build a China-Ghana community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi Jinping emphasized that mutual support is the distinctive feature and political advantage of China-Canada relations. China will, as always, support Gabon in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The Communist Party of China has gone through ups and downs and has continued to grow and become the world's largest ruling party. Adhering to comprehensive and strict party governance is the key to success. China is willing to intensify exchanges at all levels with Gabon, exchange experience in party and state governance, and support Gabon in strengthening its governance capacity. China and Gabon have obvious economic complementary advantages and great potential for cooperation. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, cultivate growth points for cooperation, make good use of the new opportunities of "zero tariffs" and the "green channel" for African agricultural and food products to be exported to China, promote the expansion and upgrading of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, drive Gabon's industrial development, increase employment, improve people's livelihood, and enhance the ability of independent economic development. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives I proposed are first of all beneficial to the common interests of the global South and African countries. China supports Gabon in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Gabon to jointly build a better world.

Nguema said that the friendship between Gabon and China has lasted for more than half a century, and strategic mutual trust has always been the cornerstone of the partnership between the two sides. The cooperation between the two countries is full of vitality and has effectively promoted Gabon's economic diversification in the fields of infrastructure, energy, medical care, education, vocational training and other fields, and improved Gabon's people's livelihood. Canada will firmly adhere to the one-China principle. Canada congratulates the Communist Party of China on successfully convening the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and looks forward to carrying out inter-party exchanges and learning from China's successful experience in governing the party and the country. Gabon is willing to further deepen practical cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and start business in Gabon to help Gabon achieve industrialization and sustainable development. China has established a mutually beneficial partnership with Africa. The "zero tariff" policy meets the needs of African countries and allows African products to enter the Chinese market, which is of historic significance to the development of African countries. Canada highly appreciates China's advocacy of multilateralism and its insistence on fairness and justice in international and regional affairs, and is willing to coordinate closely with China to strengthen solidarity and cooperation between Africa and China and jointly safeguard the interests of countries in the global South.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents on the implementation of the global security initiative, "zero tariffs", production and supply chains, Chinese education and other fields.

During the visit, the two sides issued the "Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Gabon on Building a China-Gabon Community with a Shared Future in the New Era."

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Nguema in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

When Nguema arrived, soldiers of honor lined up to salute him. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Canada, and a 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Nguema inspected the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the procession.

That night, Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Nguema in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi participated in the above activities.