Gabon and China have signed a series of agreements covering mining, energy, education and digital technology during a state visit to China by Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, as Libreville pushes to process more of its natural resources at home and reduce its reliance on raw material exports.

Deals signed in Shanghai

The signings took place in Shanghai on 5 November, in the presence of President Nguema, according to a statement from the Gabonese Presidency. The state visit ran from 3 to 7 November, and the two countries adopted a joint declaration in Beijing on 6 November, after Nguema met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

Huawei, power and Belinga

In the digital sector, three memoranda of understanding were concluded with the Chinese group Huawei, covering smart technologies for public security, digital modernisation of public universities, and AI-focused educational equipment for the Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema University.

On energy, the Gabonese state, Eramet Comilog and Sinohydro, a subsidiary of PowerChina, signed a letter of intent to explore options for supplying electricity to a planned manganese alloy plant in the Libreville region, with the Ngoulmendjim hydroelectric site among the options under consideration. Cooperation also extends to the Belinga iron ore project, with new commitments on railway infrastructure, rail wagon manufacturing and energy facilities.

Building on earlier accords

The package builds on an agreement reached on 20 July 2026 between the Gabonese state, Eramet and Eramet Comilog to expand local processing of manganese and raise the value added inside the country. The deals also complement a contract signed in April 2026 with Africa Global Logistics for the development of the deep-water port of Kobe-Kobe, which is meant to carry mining output to export markets. Implementation timelines and funding commitments were not detailed in the announcements.

[Source: qncnews.com](https://qncnews.com/2026/11/08/gabon-and-china-sign-agreements-on-mining-energy-and-digital-projects-during-state-visit/) | [Source: von.gov.ng](https://von.gov.ng/gabon-china-seal-new-agreements-to-boost-industrialisation/)