A reception was held in Beijing on Monday to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Gabon.

The reception was jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Gabonese Embassy in China.

Feng Zuoku, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said China and Gabon, as traditional friendly countries, have witnessed the smooth development of bilateral ties and increasing friendly exchanges.

In recent years, the two countries had made marked achievements through pragmatic cooperation on the economy, trade, culture, education and public health, Feng said.

Feng added that both sides had cooperated more closely in regional and international affairs.

Gabonese Ambassador to China Emmanuel Mba-Allo spoke highly of bilateral relations, saying that sincere friendship, trust and respect were at the core of bilateral cooperation.

China and Gabon established diplomatic relations in 1974.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)