China and Gabon issued a joint statement on Wednesday during President of the Gabonese Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba's state visit to China from April 18 to 21.

The two countries have decided to elevate the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," according to the statement.

In a world undergoing profound changes, China and Gabon have supported each other in advancing their shared interests and upholding international equity and justice, said the statement.

The two sides agreed that it is necessary to respect the right of every country to pursue and explore a path of democracy and human rights development tailored to its national reality.

They voiced firm opposition to hegemony, power politics and the behavior of abusing the values of democracy to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. 

The joint statement also stated that the two countries will deepen cooperation in areas like infrastructure construction, agriculture, energy, mining, tourism and climate change. 

The two sides vowed to further deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, better synergize development strategies and tap development potential for win-win cooperation and common development. 

They also called for safeguarding true multilateralism, advocating humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Highlighting the important role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in promoting China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, the two sides agreed to strengthen consultations and coordination on FOCAC affairs and jointly implement practical cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Dakar Plan of Action (2022-2024). 

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Chinese president holds talks with Gabonese president

Both sides agreed that President Ali Bongo's visit to China is successful and of great significance to promoting the development of China-Gabon relations and the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

President Ali Bongo invited President Xi Jinping to visit Gabon in 2024 when the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Gabon diplomatic relations.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with President of the Gabonese Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba in Beijing, China, April 19, 2023)