Celebrating Sino-Gabonese bonds at the Chinese embassy in Libreville
The 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was marked recently in Libreville with a ceremony emphasizing remembrance, peace, and the enduring partnership between Gabon and China. The event, held at the Chinese embassy, brought together high-ranking officials, diplomats, and local leaders.
Five decades of diplomatic partnership
During the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Gabon Zhou Ping highlighted the robust and growing relationship between Libreville and Beijing. He noted that 2024 also commemorates 52 years since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations. A significant milestone was reached with Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema accepting an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China in November 2024.
The ambassador also underscored upcoming historical milestones for China in 2026, including the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March victory and the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
A legacy of national progress and global peace
In his address, Zhou Ping reflected on the CPC’s century-long leadership, stating, “For over a hundred years, the CPC has steered China and its armed forces toward extraordinary achievements in national independence, economic growth, and the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics in this new era.”
Advancing peace amid global uncertainty
Addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world, the ambassador reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to peace through dialogue and negotiation. He emphasized China’s “four global initiatives”—on development, security, civilization, and international governance—as pillars of global stability and prosperity, describing them as “Chinese wisdom for world peace and development.”
Military cooperation takes center stage
Two recent examples of Sino-Gabonese defense collaboration were highlighted during the event. First, the 2024 visit of the “Peace Ark”, China’s state-of-the-art hospital ship, which completed its second humanitarian mission to Gabon. Second, the recent deployment of a Chinese military medical team to Gabon, further strengthening bilateral defense ties.
The evening also served as an opportunity to introduce Gabon’s defense community to the country’s new military attaché, Colonel Zhang Song, who has taken up his post in Libreville.
