Of all the heads of state gathering in Beijing for tomorrow's China-Africa summit, the Gabonese president is most likely to feel at home.

One of Africa's longest serving leaders, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba is visiting China for the 10th time since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974 a fact in which he obviously takes pride.

"I am certainly the head of state with the longest relationship with China."

"My various trips to China have always been interesting; if that were not so, I would not have come back the 10th time," the head of the western African country told China Daily yesterday.

Wearing a Mao suit, Bongo said: "For my part, I have not changed and Gabon has not changed. We are constant in friendship."

This time, Bongo joins leaders of 47 African countries to attend the weekend's Beijing Summit of Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, which both sides believe will push their relations to a new high.

On Wednesday, he visited a photo show at the Gabonese Embassy where 18 pictures depicted his long-standing rapport with several generations of the Chinese leadership, including late leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, former President Jiang Zemin and President Hu Jintao.

During the meeting with Bongo earlier in the day, Hu, who visited Libreville two years ago, said the two countries had boosted co-operation on trade, resources exploration, infrastructure construction and telecommunications. "We will work with Gabon to deepen economic and trade collaboration, and consultation in international affairs," he said.

Bongo agreed with Hu, saying Gabon supported China's reunification.

Asked to comment on some people fanning the "China threat" in Africa, Bongo said: "For many years, China has been a reliable partner in the economic sphere (to Africa) So to speculate about the so-called 'China threat' seems strange to me.

"In any case, African countries have become mature and are therefore in a better position to take charge of their own affairs despite the effects of globalization."

He said China and Gabon both have needs and assets. So it is a matter of seeing what is the best fit for mutual benefit.

"Gabon wants to emphasize the exploitation of primary raw materials, which suits the needs of the Chinese economy," he said.

China imported US$352 million of goods from Gabon last year, including logs and minerals. Gabon imported US$41 million of goods, according to Chinese customs statistics.

The trade imbalance should be addressed in future Chinese investments, Bongo said.

"We want to create a partnership comprising Gabonese and Chinese investors and partners," he said. "What we would also like to get are skills to develop new business sectors and create thousands of jobs aimed particularly at young people in Gabon."

Source: China Daily