On June 25, 2014, the grand inauguration ceremony of Chinese Consulate-General in Bata was held. Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming and Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mme. Maria of Equatorial Guinea jointly inaugurated the Consulate-General and cut the ribbon for it together with H.E. Zhao Hongsheng, Chinese Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Governor Amado Nguema Owono of the Litoral Province and Mayor Constantino Ekong Nsue of Bata City. The first Chinese Consul-General in Bata Gu Jiafeng hosted the inauguration ceremony. More than 150 guests including friends from various circles in Equatorial Guinea, consuls-general from various countries and representatives of China-funded enterprises, foreign aid specialists and the Chinese community in Equatorial Guinea were present at the ceremony.

Vice Minister Zhang Ming expressed in his speech that bilateral relations have shown a sound momentum of all-round development in recent years. The Chinese side is gratified for fruitful results yielded in bilateral cooperation and is fully confident in the future of the bilateral relations. The establishment of the Consulate-General in Bata is an important measure taken by China to implement the speech on the building of Overseas People’s Livelihood Project given by Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Africa in May this year. It will surely push forward friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and their local regions, and will further expand and enrich the connotation of China-Equatorial Guinea relations. Vice Minister Zhang stressed that five foreign aid teams including Chinese medical team in Equatorial Guinea and hydropower station expert team are resident in Bata. And most of the 24 major Chinese enterprises in Equatorial Guinea carry out engineering projects in Bata. Local exchanges and cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea are an important part as well as a dynamic driving force of the development of bilateral relations. Litoral Province and Bata City of Equatorial Guinea are inclined to establish friendship relations with Jiangxi Province and Nanning City in China respectively. It is believed that with the ever-deepening exchanges, this beautiful city of Bata will be known to more Chinese people.

On behalf of the central government of Equatorial Guinea, Secretary of State Maria extended warm congratulations on the inauguration of the Consulate-General. She spoke highly of bilateral relations and profound friendship between the two countries and thanked the Chinese side for offering precious support for economic and social development in Equatorial Guinea. She expressed that the inauguration of Chinese Consulate-General in Bata has opened a new chapter in the bilateral relations and will surely further expand and enhance friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, promoting common development for both sides.

Mayor Ekong also delivered a warm speech. He expressed that for years, citizens of Bata have been looking forward to China’s establishing Consulate-General in Bata, and now the Chinese Consulate-General is officially set up, which will greatly push forward local cooperation in various fields including economy and trade, infrastructure construction, agriculture, and people-to-people and cultural engagement. Bata City will, as always, provide positive assistance for the Consulate-General in carrying out its work.

Consul-General Gu Jiafeng said, the successful opening of the Consulate-General has gained strong support from Equatorial Guinea’s central government and local governments at all levels, the Chinese community as well as friends from all circles in Equatorial Guinea, and he would like to express heartfelt gratitude in this regard. The Consulate-General will put the concept of “doing diplomatic work for the people” into practice, and provide quality and convenient service for Chinese citizens and friends from all circles in Equatorial Guinea within the consular district, so as to play a bridging role and make due contributions to pushing exchanges and cooperation between China and provinces and cities of the mainland region of Equatorial Guinea and in enhancing friendship between the two peoples.

Bata, the second capital and the second largest city of Equatorial Guinea, is also the economic center and transportation hub of the country. The Consulate-General in Bata is the first consulate-general China has established in Equatorial Guinea as well as the ninth consular institution China has established in Africa. The consular district covers the Litoral Province, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem and Wele-Nzas.