China and Gabon elevated their diplomatic ties during a state visit by ​the Central African nation’s president to China, ‌and are looking to deepen cooperation in the areas of mining and security, they said in a ​joint statement on Friday.

China and Gabon ​agreed to pursue closer high-level political, governmental, ⁠party, legislative and local exchanges, according ​to the statement released by China’s state-run Xinhua ​news agency.

China and Gabon are willing to further deepen cooperation in the mining sector, and China said ​it would “support Gabon in turning its resource ​advantages into drivers of development”.

The two nations are committed ‌to ⁠strengthening cooperation in peace and security, pledging to expand exchanges between their armed forces and law enforcement and security agencies, the ​statement said.

The statement ​also ⁠called for deeper cooperation in trade, education and public health

“China is ​willing to be a reliable friend ​and ⁠partner in Gabon’s independent development,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told his counterpart Brice Oligui Nguema ⁠during ​a meeting in Beijing on ​Friday, Chinese state media reported.

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Photo: X/ @XHportugues