Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said in Beijing Thursday the National People's Congress (NPC) of China is ready to step up cooperation with the parliament of Gabon to add new vigor into bilateral relations and jointly push forward friendly relations between the two countries.

Wu made the remark during a meeting with visiting Gabonese President El Habj Omar Bongo Ondimba in the Great Hall of the People, Thursday afternoon.

Wu cited Gabon as a true friend of China, and said the two countries have seen healthy and stable development of friendly and cooperative relations since they established diplomatic links 30 years ago. He noted that the two sides have achieved remarkable results in political, economic and social cooperation and maintained close consultation and cooperation on international affairs.

Since Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Gabon last February, bilateral exchanges and cooperation have entered a new stage of acceleration, Wu noted. China thanks the Gabonese government for its support to China on such issues as Taiwan and human rights. Wu said China treasures its traditional friendship with Gabon and is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation on an equal and mutually beneficial basis so as to realize common development and bring benefits to the people of the two countries.

Noting that China is the largest developing country in the world and that Africa is the region with the largest number of developing countries, Wu said China regards other developing countries as important political and economic cooperation partners. He also expressed the wish that the strengthening of Sino-Gabonese relationship will advance the all-round development of cooperation between China and Africa.

Bongo said his nine visits to China during the past three decades is an adequate proof of the extraordinary relations between Gabon and China. Over the years, the two countries have achieved tremendous development as bilateral cooperation rendered great results. He said Gabon regards China as an important cooperative partner and is ready to join efforts with China to achieve new results of bilateral cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2004)