The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hosts a symposium on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea in Shanghai on December 4, 2024. Photo: Sun Wei

A symposium on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, kicked off in Shanghai on Wednesday. Representatives from countries such as Gabon and Nigeria reached by the Global Times said China will play an important role in the security of the Gulf of Guinea and they are willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese Navy.

Bekale Meyong, Gabon Navy chief of naval operations, still remembers how the PLA Navy assisted the Gabon Navy to repair patrol boats one year ago. He gave high praise for the move.

"At that time, the Chinese side dispatched six technical personnel to help us repair the vessels, and the cooperation was very smooth. The PLA Navy is one of the most advanced navies in the world, and we hope to strengthen cooperation with the PLA Navy," Meyong said. He noted that the naval cooperation between China and Gabon is very diverse, including personnel training, joint exercises and other areas. 

"We have many trainees who have received training in China, including some senior officers," Meyong said. In addition, during the visit of the PLA Navy's escort fleet to Gabon last year, both sides conducted joint exercises, which serve as the best examples of China-Gabon naval cooperation.

The symposium is the second of its kind. The first symposium was held in May 2022 via video link. Themed "Maritime Security and Cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea," this year's symposium is held to implement the consensus reached at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, as well as to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, and a maritime community with a shared future, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Delegates from the navies of 18 Gulf of Guinea countries including Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon attended the symposium, according to the organizer. 

Hu Zhongming, commander of the PLA Navy, said during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium that the Chinese Navy has provided professional training to over 1,200 military personnel from countries in the Gulf of Guinea. The training content has gradually expanded from areas such as staff operations, military medicine and equipment technology to the field of operational command. Chinese naval formations have visited more than 20 countries in Africa and conducted joint exercises with naval forces from over 10 countries.

The symposium this year serves as an opportunity for Gulf of Guinea countries to enhance cooperation with the PLA Navy.  

Nigeria's Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla told the Global Times at the symposium that, for decades, the navies of China and Nigeria have achieved many cooperative results. For example, many young officers from the Nigerian Navy have come to China for training, and the Nigerian Navy has also purchased many vessels from China. Ogala also expressed hope to purchase more Chinese vessels and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the navies of China and Nigeria in areas such as vessel maintenance.