Gabon's president tells Xinhua he wants deeper China ties in trade, resources, training

Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said in an interview published by Xinhua on 4 November that Gabon wants deeper cooperation with China in trade, natural resources, professional training and infrastructure.

Nguema is on a state visit to China from 3 to 7 November at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. It is his first visit to China since taking office in May 2025. He attended the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing as transitional president.

Gabon and China have kept up solidarity and mutual respect since establishing diplomatic ties in 1974, Nguema said. He pointed to Chinese-aided projects in Gabon, among them the China-Gabon Cooperation Hospital in Libreville and the China-Gabon Friendship Hospital in Franceville.

He also described a road rehabilitation project in Oyem, in northern Gabon, which he inspected in July. A Chinese company is carrying it out, and it includes a 36-km cross-border road, a 32-km national highway connecting section and a bridge over the Woleu River. Xinhua described it as an important land transport corridor between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Nguema said the cross-border road would significantly shorten travel times and ease the movement of people and goods.

"Oyem is my hometown," Nguema said. "I measured the thickness of the asphalt pavement and was very satisfied with the quality of the construction." He added that when the road is ready he will invite the Equatorial Guinean president to join him for the inauguration.

Nguema also cited professional training centres built by a Chinese company in the Nkok Special Economic Zone near Libreville, in Port-Gentil and in Franceville. "Through these training centers, we have trained a number of engineers, electricians, plumbers and mechanics," he said.

He welcomed China's decision to fully implement zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. He called the 9th China International Import Expo, to be held in Shanghai from 5 to 10 November, an important platform for Gabon to show its products and explore the Chinese market. Gabon plans to promote processed wood products, palm oil, coffee and cocoa there.

Nguema said Gabon hopes not only to export more products to China but also to attract more Chinese companies to invest and set up factories in Gabon.

Gabon is implementing its National Growth and Development Plan for 2026-2030, which aims to promote industrialisation and economic restructuring, Nguema said. He said the plan has much in common with China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and that the two countries could strengthen the alignment of their development strategies.

"Gabon has abundant mineral resources, while China has strong industrial capabilities and technological advantages," Nguema said. "The two sides can jointly explore ways to process raw materials locally and increase the added value of products."

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs puts two-way trade with Gabon in 2025 at US$3.94 billion, up 8.2 per cent from 2024. China imported US$3.12 billion of goods from Gabon and exported US$820 million to it. China mainly buys oil, manganese ore and timber from Gabon, and sells it construction machinery, steel products, electromechanical products and vehicles.