Guy Nzouba Ndama, the president of the National Assembly of Gabon, and Cheng Siwei, the vice chairman of the NPC's Standing Committee, on Tuesday expressed their willingness to further cooperation between the two countries' legislatures.

 

Ndama spoke highly of Gabonese-Chinese relations and the close cooperation between the two legislatures. He also voiced his appreciation of China's help in the construction of Gabonese democratic institutions.

 

The National Assembly of Gabon was willing to strengthen exchanges with the National People's Congress (NPC) of China at all levels, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, and jointly advance the development of Gabonese-Chinese friendly relations, he said.

 

Cheng said the two countries' peoples had enjoyed a profound friendship despite the significant geographical distance between China and Gabon.

 

The two sides trusted and supported each other politically, and had conducted mutually-beneficial cooperation in various forms including such fields as economy and trade, Cheng said.

 

He said the legislatures of the two countries had also established a sound relationship, adding that the NPC was willing to further its cooperation with Gabon's parliament.

 

The two legislatures could contribute to the all-around development of Sino-Gabonese ties by learning from one another, added the Chinese lawmaker.

 

An NPC delegation headed by Cheng arrived in Libreville on Saturday for a friendly visit to Gabon.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2006)