China is ready to push forward the new type of partnership featuring long-term stability, equality, mutual benefit and all-round cooperation with African countries, said Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo in Beijing Monday.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Guy Nzouba Ndama, president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Gabon, and his party.

It is an important component of China's independent foreign policy of peace to strengthen and develop friendly cooperation with African countries, including Gabon, Wu said.

Wu said China and Gabon have always supported the other since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 30 years ago, adding that the two nations share identical or similar views on major international issues, he added.

The sustained development of Sino-Gabonese relations reflected common aspiration of the two peoples, he said.

In recent years, the frequent high-level exchanges and rapid development of economic and trade cooperation have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

The Chinese side appreciated and thanked the firm support by Gabonese government on such key issues as the Taiwan and human rights issues, he stressed.

China values friendly relations with Gabon and is willing to push forward exchanges and cooperation with Gabon in various fields including legislation, Wu said.

Ndama highly spoke the friendly relations between China and Gabon. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Gabon last February and Gabonese President Omar Bongo will visit China early next month. All these high-level exchanges were significant for the growth of bilateral relations, Ndama said.

Gabon has always paid attention to China's development and believed that the mode of development in China can be learned by Gabon, he said.

The Gabonese National Assembly also hopes to further strengthen exchanges with China's NPC so as to deepen friendship of the two countries and two peoples, Ndama said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2004)