1. Political relations

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea established diplomatic relations on October 15, 1970, and ever after the relations of the two countries have witnessed a smooth development.

Since the establishment of the relations Chinese leaders and officials who visited the Equatorial Guinea mainly include: Luo Shuzhen, Minister of Post and Telecommunication (August 1980), Yang Fuchang, Vice-minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 1991), Zhu Xun, Minister of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources ( October 1993), Qian Qichen, Vice-premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs (January 1997), Ji Peiding, Vice-minister of the Foreign Ministry (June 1998), Ma Xiuhong, Assistant to Minister of the MOFTEC (December 2000) and Xu Jialu, Vice-chairman of the NPC (July 2002), etc.

Leaders and officials who visited China from Equatorial Guinea mainly include: Maste President of Equatorial Guinea (September 1977), Eyegue, Vice-president (August 1974), Marcelina, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (March 1983), Obiang, President (August 1984, April 1990, September 1996 and November 2001), Eneme, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ( May 1991), etc.

In October 2000, Santiago, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Miguel, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Equatorial Guinea came to attend the "Beijing Ministerial Meeting 2000 of the Sino-African Cooperation Forum".

2. Economy and trade relations and economic and technological cooperation

China and Equatorial Guinea signed agreement on economy and technological cooperation and trade agreement and also set up a mixed commission for economy and trade cooperation. In August 1996, the mixed commission for economy and trade cooperation of the two countries held its first meeting in the Equatorial Guinea. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations the Chinese side has aided the Equatorial Guinea in the construction of such projects as Bata broadcasting station, Nkue - Mongon Highway, Bicomo Hydropower Station, Bata - Nefang Highway and Nefang - Nkue Highway and so on.

In recent years, due to great amount import of timbers and crude oil from the Equatorial Guinea the trade between the two countries saw a faster development. The bilateral trade value in 2002 totaled US$ 386.014 million, of which the Chinese export was only US$ 3.288 million while the import registered US$ 382.726 million. The Chinese exports to Equatorial Guinea are mainly the mechanic and electric, light industry products, garments and drugs etc.

The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea started in 1985. Now China Jiangxi International Co. and Fuzhou Zhuang'an Co. are carrying out businesses for the undertaking projects and workforce cooperation in Tropical Guinea. At present, China Jilin Forest Industry (Group) is engaged in the lumbering and timber processing business and Heilongjiang East Co. is undertaking the housing project in Equatorial Guinea.

3. Cooperation in the fields of culture, education and military affairs

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and the Equatorial Guinea it has seen a continuous development of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture and education, medical work and military affairs.

In 1982, the two countries signed the agreement for cultural cooperation. Starting from 1984 China began to provide every year Equatorial Guinea with the quota of scholarships and now the students of the Equatorial Guinea studying in China come to 35 in all.

In June 1971, the two countries signed the protocol, agreeing that China would send medical team to work in Equatorial Guinea and up to now China has dispatched a total of 21 batches of medical team to work respectively in its capital city Malabo and in continental Bata.

The mutual visits of the two armies of China and Equatorial Guinea were started in 1970s. In March 1979, the Chinese military delegation for friendship headed by Liao Hansheng, first political commissar of Nanjing Military Zone paid a visit to Equatorial Guinea. In January 1998, Colonel Agustin Ndong, supervisor of the Equatorial Guinea armed forces visited China.

In December 2000, Major General Zhang Bangdong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office with the Ministry of National Defence visited the Equatorial Guinea. In June 2001, Ebendeng, Representative of Equatorial Guinea at the ministerial level of the Ministry of National Defence paid a visit to China.

4. Important agreement

The two countries signed the "Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea" with the contents running as follows:

"The governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in consideration of the benefits and wishes of the two countries have decided to establish the diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

The Chinese government and people resolutely support the government and people of the Equatorial Guinea in the struggle against imperialism, and new and old colonialism.

The government of Equatorial Guinea recognizes that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole China.

The governments of the two countries agree unanimously to develop the diplomatic relations of friendship and cooperation on the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty, territorial-integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference of each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence".

(Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006)