BPAFFC facilitates a visit of Gabonese delegation to BAIC —A friendly dialogue on new quality productive forces

A six-member delegation led by Michel Régis Onanga M. Ndiaye, President of the National Assembly of Gabon, visited the Chinese automaker BAIC on March 26, facilitated by the BPAFFC. The delegation experienced firsthand the vitality and dynamism of smart manufacturing in Beijing and engaged in a friendly dialogue on new quality productive forces.

The delegation first visited the exhibition hall of the auto company, where they were briefed on the company’s overall profile. The second they walked in, they were attracted by the latest Stelato S9T flagship sedan. They eagerly stepped forward to take a close look at the new car, experienced a static test drive, explored its distinctive features, and asked about the price and the language options available in its infotainment system.

At the technology exhibition hall, the delegation learned about the evolution of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and key technological breakthroughs, and eagerly took turns experiencing ARCFOX’s family car models. Jeannot Kalima, Second Vice-President of the National Assembly of Gabon, remarked, “I am an avid car collector, and I hope to come back for another visit and hands-on experience once autonomous vehicles enter mass production in two years.”

At the auto technology museum, the delegation checked out the scale models presenting the four key manufacturing processes of stamping, body assembly, painting, and final assembly. They observed closely and asked questions from time to time, marveling at the fact that a new energy vehicle could roll off the production line in a span of just one hour.

After the visit, Hu Hanjun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of BAIC Group, and Wu Bing, Vice President of the BPAFFC, held talks with the delegation.

Wu Bing gave a brief introduction to the BPAFFC and reviewed the journey of exchanges and cooperation with African countries, particularly Gabon. Noting that the year 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and is also the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Wu hoped that the delegation’s visit to Beijing would usher in a new chapter of friendly cooperation between Beijing and Gabon, facilitate new progress in people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, and contribute to taking the China-Gabon comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to the next level.

During the talks, representatives from BAIC BJEV, BAIC Foton, and BAIC International presented their product highlights, international expansion strategies, and prospects for cooperation with Africa. They also engaged in in-depth discussions with the delegation on concrete ways to advance cooperation in green industries and NEVs in Gabon.

Michel Régis Onanga M. Ndiaye thanked the BPAFFC for its thoughtful arrangements for the visit, and stated that even on his sixth visit, he was awed anew by China’s development dynamics, and Chinese wisdom was truly admirable. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Gabon have maintained close ties in politics, trade, diplomacy, and other fields, and these ties have grown even closer in recent years, thanks in no small part to the BPAFFC’s efforts in deepening people-to-people friendship. During the visit, he was deeply impressed by BAIC’s outstanding performance in international markets and its commitment to sharing advanced technologies with other countries. He sincerely hoped the automaker could soon forge cooperation with Gabon and bring high-quality Chinese vehicles to Africa.

Extra Info

The BPAFFC has attached great importance to exchanges and cooperation with Gabon over the years. In 2023, it received a Gabonese delegation that came to China to attend a diplomatic negotiation and protocol training workshop. From 2023 to 2024, the BPAFFC organized China-Africa friendship football matches within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The Gabonese embassy and its diplomats’ children actively participated in the matches. In 2025, the BPAFFC held the 5th China-Africa Future Leaders’ Dialogue—Exploring Green Beijing and the China-Africa Youth Dialogue on Green Development. Young representatives from Gabon attended the events in Beijing.