On the afternoon of September 8, 2004, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with President Omar Bongo of Gabon, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides spoke highly of China-Gabon relations, expressing the will to renew their joint efforts to further develop the traditional friendship and the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Hu said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties three decades ago, the two countries have shown mutual understanding and trust, treated each other as equals and conducted sincere cooperation. China and Gabon are good friends and good partners that can stand testing. He said, "when I visited Gabon in the past February, the two sides reached important consensus on further promoting the development of relations between the two countries under the new circumstances. We are pleased to note that with the concerted efforts of the two sides, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have taken on a new look of crackling development. We are grateful to Gabon for its firm support for China's lofty cause of national reunification and its precious support for China in international affairs."

Bongo agreed to Hu's comments on relations between the two countries, saying that this visit is a continuation of the dialogue in the past February when President Hu Jintao visited Gabon, and is therefore of great significance. He expressed the belief that the visit will deepen the friendship and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the people of Gabon and China. He also reaffirmed that Gabon will continue pursuing unswervingly the one-China policy and supporting China's national reunification.

Hu indicated that China would work together with Gabon to maintain the good momentum of development of relations between the two countries and try to bring the China-Gabon friendship and cooperation to a new high by doing the following:

First, boosting the political and non-governmental exchanges between the two countries to deepen mutual understanding and friendship so as to lay down a solid foundation for greater development of the bilateral relations in the future.

Second, tapping potentials for economic and trade cooperation and expanding the cooperation scale. China will continue encouraging Chinese enterprises with strength and good reputation to invest and make start-ups in Gabon, expand cooperation between the two sides in the fields of oil, mining, forestry as well as in agriculture, water conservancy and fishery.

Third, deepening exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, culture and health and initiate cooperation in human resources development within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

Fourth, giving further play to the political consultation mechanism of the foreign ministries of the two countries to maintain coordination in international affairs.

Bongo responded that President Hu's proposals are practical and operable and of far-reaching significance to deepening Gabon-China cooperation. He said that Gabon is now in the process of domestic construction and development and sorely needs infrastructure construction of railways, roads, deep-water ports, and hydroelectric power plants. Gabon hopes to enhance cooperation with China in these fields.

Hu stressed that China values the traditional friendship between China and Africa and firmly supports the development and rejuvenation of Africa. China-Africa Cooperation Forum has become an important platform for China and Africa to strengthen solidarity and cooperation for common development under the new circumstances. China stands ready to work together with African countries including Gabon to utilize this platform, enhance cooperation in all areas, constantly explore new cooperation channels and enrich the cooperation content so as to bring the New Partnership between China and Africa to a higher level.

Bongo introduced the situation and current hot-spot issues in Africa. He said that African countries are trying to explore ways of resolving these issues peacefully. China is a sincere friend of Africa, so Gabon and other African countries hope to continuously deepen the friendship and cooperation with China and look forward to a greater role played by China in the settlement of the hot-spot issues in Africa.

Following the talks, the two heads of state attended the signing ceremony for the economic and technological cooperation agreement between the government of China and the government of Gabon, the protocol on forestry cooperation and the protocol on cooperation in fishery and aquiculture between related departments of the two governments.

Prior to the talks, President Hu Jintao held a welcoming ceremony for the visit of President Bongo at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. President Hu's wife Liu Yongqing, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Gu Xiulian, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Li Meng, Vice Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party (China Public Interest Party) Du Yijin, Director of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma kai and some other officials attended the welcoming ceremony.