Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema concluded a state visit to China from November 3 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit resulted in significant outcomes, marking a new milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries. The Gabonese and Chinese leaders adopted a joint declaration, elevating their bilateral ties to a "community of shared future," characterized by mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two countries signed several cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding on promoting joint cooperation within the Global Security Initiative, and another on cooperation in the field of education. They also agreed on a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation in human resource development and a memorandum on cooperation in the field of geoscience. Additionally, they signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening industrial and supply chains.
On the commercial front, Gabon and Chinese company South Manganese Investment Limited signed a memorandum of understanding on a 116.7 billion FCFA investment for local manganese transformation in the M'Bembélé region. The project aims to produce 180,000 tonnes of processed manganese annually in the first phase, increasing to 1.08 million tonnes by 2030. The agreement includes plans for mineral enrichment and the development of energy and logistics infrastructure.
The visit also led to the signing of partnership agreements in various sectors, including public security, higher education, artificial intelligence, energy, and industrial infrastructure development. The Gabonese government and Chinese company Huawei signed three protocols, focusing on public security, higher education, and equipping the University Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema with artificial intelligence-dedicated teaching equipment.
In the mining sector, the Compagnie minière de l'Ogooué (COMILOG), a subsidiary of the Eramet group, signed a tripartite letter of intent with the Gabonese state and Chinese company Sinohydro. The agreement aims to study and secure the electricity supply needed for local manganese transformation in Gabon. The project involves developing and connecting the future manganese alloy plant to the Ngoulmendjim hydroelectric site near Libreville.
The state visit also yielded positive outcomes for the Société gabonaise de raffinage (SOGARA). President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met with Chinese industrialists to discuss the new refinery project. Chinese partners, including the ENFI engineering group, and SOGARA's management presented the project's progress. The president emphasized the need for a transfer of skills, job creation, and increased added value in Gabon.
The agreements signed during the visit reflect the new "community of shared future" partnership, guiding bilateral relations between Gabon and China. The outcomes of the state visit are expected to strengthen cooperation and promote development in various sectors in Gabon.
Key points
- The visit resulted in significant agreements, including a 116.7 billion FCFA investment for local manganese transformation and cooperation in public security, higher education, and artificial intelligence.
