On December 7, 2016, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon. The two heads of state decided to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive cooperative partnership and build on the implementation of outcomes from the Johannesburg Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to integrate development strategies of both countries, and comprehensively plan friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between the two countries, so as to achieve common development.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Gabon enjoy profound traditional friendship. Mr. President choosing China as the first destination for state visit after your reappointment shows your will and determination in firmly committing to developing China-Gabon friendship. Bilateral relationship has enjoyed healthy and smooth development since the establishment of China-Gabon diplomatic relations 42 years ago. The two sides share sincere friendship, equal treatment and consistent mutual understanding and support on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns. Both sides have continuously enhanced political mutual trust, yielded fruitful results from mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. China is willing to, together with Gabon, consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust, enhance high-level contact, expand exchanges at all levels including government sectors, ruling parties, parliaments as well as local governments, and transform political mutual trust into the impetus for cooperation and development. Both sides should integrate each other's development strategies. China supports Gabon in accelerating the country's industrialization process to translate resource superiority into development outcomes, and is willing to continuously promote related cooperation projects under construction and encourage Chinese enterprises to actively participate in bilateral cooperation in infrastructure construction. China is willing to discuss the establishment of an agriculture cooperation mechanism with Gabon and support the country's tourism, finance, telecommunication and other industries. Both countries should enhance security cooperation. China stands ready to help Gabon strengthen its capacity-building in maintaining stability and law enforcement. Both sides should carry out various people-to-people and cultural exchanges in culture, education, health, human resource development, youth, women, media, think tanks and other areas, and well implement the 2016-2020 action plan for the cultural cooperation agreement between both governments. The two countries need to intensify coordination in international affairs and reinforce communication and coordination in addressing climate change, peace and security in Africa and other issues of respective major concern in order to well safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Xi Jinping stressed that all African countries are devoted to exploring development paths fitting their own national conditions and Africa’s process of self-enhancement through unity and integration is undergoing rapid development. China will, by upholding its Africa policy of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and the correct viewpoint of righteousness and benefit, work with friendly African countries to fully implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit and closely combine its own development with assisting the independent and sustainable growth of Africa for the sake of win-win cooperation and common development.

Ali Bongo Ondimba expressed that he is glad to pay a state visit to China first after his reappointment. With the joint efforts of both sides, Gabon-China traditional friendship, personally built by the older generations of leadership of the two countries is continuously and vigorously developing. Grateful for China's long-term and strong support, Gabon is willing to beef up mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as investment, agriculture, mining, science and technology, tourism, finance, and infrastructure, and conduct closer exchanges with China in education, health and other people-to-people and cultural areas. Gabon also stands ready to actively participate in relevant cooperation under the framework of the "ten major China-Africa cooperation plans" proposed by President Xi Jinping, and continuously deepen friendly relations between Africa and China. Gabon adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to intensifying coordination and collaboration with China in international affairs.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on economy, technology, culture, infrastructure construction and other fields.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Ali Bongo Ondimba at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping's wife Mme. Peng Liyuan, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Chen Changzhi, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Zhang Qingli and other people were present.