Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema toured a memorial hall dedicated to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and viewed a themed exhibition charting the decades of development which have taken place in Shanghai on Wednesday as he continues his state visit to the country.
Nguema arrived in China on the previous day to begin a five-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to the country since taking office in May last year.
On Wednesday morning, the Gabonese leader visited the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, reviewing the history of the CPC's founding and learning about its more than a century of struggle and endeavor.
Later that afternoon, Nguema toured the Shanghai Pudong Exhibition Hall, where he saw the remarkable transformations which have unfolded in the Pudong New Area over the past several decades, powered by China's reform and opening up. The president is also due to attend the opening ceremony of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Thursday, where Gabon will make its debut at the expo's Country Pavilion.
After concluding the Shanghai leg of his trip, Nguema will travel to Beijing, where he is scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony and a banquet held by President Xi, and the two heads of state will also hold talks, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nguema will also meet separately with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, during his stay in the capital, the ministry said.
Gabon's president visits CPC memorial hall, exhibition in Shanghai
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker visited Tongji University in Shanghai on Wednesday, before attending the opening ceremony of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in the city on Thursday.
Stocker is paying an official visit to China until Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
While delivering a speech at the Tongji University, he put scientific research and higher education cooperation in the spotlight.
"Austria and China will build the future together, bringing mutual benefits to both countries. This requires courage, confidence and long-term commitment," said the Austrian chancellor, noting that Austria will be a trustworthy partner to China in opening a new chapter for cooperation.
At a panel discussion, participants from both countries discussed the future of science and engineering.
Recent exchanges between the Tongji University and Austrian universities focused on joint research, student mobility and the growing role of artificial intelligence in engineering education.
"This year marks the 55th anniversary of [the establishment of] diplomatic ties between China and Austria, and 100 years [the 100th year] since Professor Hans List began teaching at the Tongji University. These two milestones invite us to look back at history. The longstanding friendship between Chinese and Austrian engineers is a vivid example of China's openness to the world," said Wan Gang, honorary president of the China Association for Science and Technology.
In 1926, Hans List began teaching at the Tongji University, helping train China's first generation of internal combustion engine specialists. A century later, his family donated historical archives and a statue of him to the university.
There has been close cooperation between the Tongji University and AVL List GmbH, which was founded by Hans List and is one of the world's leading mobility technology companies for engineering, simulation, and testing in the automotive industry.
A century ago, Austria brought some of its most advanced engineering technologies to China. Today, the two countries are building on that legacy, strengthening their friendship and partnership, and driving a new wave of innovation together.
Austrian chancellor visits Tongji University in Shanghai
