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The President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is in China for a four-day visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.

Diplomatic ties between the countries were founded 42 years ago, and now the leaders have agreed to lift relations to a comprehensive cooperative partnership. 

This is Bongo’s 12th visit to China, but his first after winning the presidential election a few months ago.

Xi said China is willing to deepen cooperation based on mutual benefit.

“Since the founding of diplomatic ties between our two countries 42 years ago, China and Gabon have developed sound and long-lasting relations through the efforts of successive presidents, including your father,” Xi said.

Bongo has led the central African country since winning a 2009 election, following the death of his father Omar Bongo, one of the world’s longest-serving presidents. 

The two sides signed four cooperative documents, covering areas of economic technology, infrastructure and cultural communication.

“China and Gabon developed mutually beneficial relations in all kinds of areas. This time, the two newly-signed concessional loans projects will be put to use in infrastructure,” said Zhang Ming, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister.

The two leaders agreed to lift the bilateral relations to comprehensive cooperative partnership. And the two governments will deepen cooperation in areas of agriculture, infrastructure and cultural exchanges.