Chinese president offers condolences over death of Gabon's President Bongo

BEIJING, June 10 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday sent a condolence message to Gabon's interim leader and Senate President Rose Francine Rogombe following the death of President Omar Bongo.

Hu expressed deep condolences over the death of

Bongo, Africa's longest-serving president, on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name. He also extended sympathies to Bongo's family, the Gabonese government and its people.

Bongo dedicated his life to promoting national stability and development as well as ethnic unity and progress, Hu said.

The late president played a key role in promoting peace and development in Africa and African integration, said Hu.

The Chinese president called Bongo "a close friend of the Chinese people," saying Bongo, who visited China 11 times, highly valued China-Gabon relations and forged a strong friendship with Chinese leaders of several generations.

Bongo also made a historical contribution to the establishment and development of friendly and cooperative ties between China and Gabon, Hu said.

The Chinese people regret losing such a faithful friend, Hu added.

The Chinese government and people greatly value

its friendship with Gabon, Hu said. He expressed his belief that ties between the two countries will continue to be strengthened with joint efforts from both sides.

The Gabonese government announced that Bongo died Monday in Spain at age 73.