On May 18th, Li Mingxiang, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), attended an opening ceremony of the online training workshop for cadres of Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), and delivered a speech via video link. On behalf of Minister Song Tao and the IDCPC, Li congratulated on the opening of the workshop and noted that the major strategic achievements China has made in COVID-19 containment were attributed to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s personal command and deployment, to his core leadership and to the CPC’s strong leadership, and these achievements were also the demonstration of the strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Li also expressed China’s readiness to work with Gabon to continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to promote in-depth development the relations between both Parties and both countries. China is willing to work with all countries including Gabon to carry out international cooperation in epidemic prevention, and jointly oppose politicizing, labeling and stigmatizing the virus, in a bid to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Eric Dodo Bounguendza, PDG Secretary-General spoke highly of the relations between the PDG and the CPC as well as between both countries in his speech and thanked the Chinese side for sharing its experience in fighting the disease. Bounguendza said the online training workshop will help the PDG improve its governance capability in the midst of the epidemic, so as to better lead the Gabonese people in defeating the virus. 

Following the opening ceremony, both sides had exchanges on giving play to the role of ruling parties in the response to COVID-19.  Both sides will also conduct exchanges on coordinating efforts to boost epidemic prevention and economic and social development, carrying out international anti-epidemic cooperation, poverty alleviation and consolidating China-Africa friendship.

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