On the 24th May 2012, Symposium for China-Gabon Investment & Trading opened in Nankai University. The symposium was co-hosted by NKIIE, the Department of International Trade & Economics, and the Association of Gabonese students in China. It was sponsored by Tianjin Binhai Auto Parts Industrial Park Company Limited (BAPIP).

Three diplomats, Mr. Francis Oyinamono,namely the first counselor,Mr. Theoley Theodore Leyoubi , the commercial counselor,and Mr. Basile Ndoti-Nembe,the cultural counselor, of the Gabon Embassy in China attended the seminar. Prof. Tong Jiadong, the deputy principal of Nankai University made welcome address. About 80 people attended the symposium, including professors and MIB students from NKIIE and the Department of International Trade & Economics, Gabonese students in China, and business executives from relevant industries. 

This seminar received 19 papers focusing on China-Gabon economic relationship, Industrial investment opportunities in Gabon, market issues in Gabon for Chinese exporters, etc. 8 authors presented their papers in the symposium and answered questions from other attendants. The Symposium Proceedings had been published with all submitted papers in three languages, namely Chinese, English and French.

A Memorandum Ceremony was held at the final stage of the symposium, in which the BAPIP signed intent letters of joint-investment in Gabon woodwork industrial park with a fund management company, an asset management company and a business entity respectively.

This symposium reflects the current fast growing interests of Chinese enterprises in Africa, and is aimed to help to build a network stimulating exchange between academic researchers and business executives, between Chinese and Gabonese, and to facilitate economic development in China and Gabon.