BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the death of Gabon's President Omar Bongo Ondimba and conveyed sincere condolences to his family and the Gabonese government and people.

    "As an outstanding leader of Gabon and a politician with great virtue and high prestige in Africa, Bongo has made very important contributions to the peace on the African continent and the advancement of China-Gabon ties," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing.

    The Gabonese government announced earlier that the longest serving ruler of an African state died Monday in a Spanish clinic at age 73.

    Bongo stayed at the helm of the country for 42 years since coming to power in 1967.

    Qin said Bongo's death was not only a great loss for the Gabonese people, but also cost China a good and respected friend.

    He stressed that China cherished the friendly cooperative relations with Gabon and was ready to work with the country to cement and develop the China-Gabon traditional friendship and practical cooperation, so as to push forward bilateral ties.

    Gabon, a former French colony, forms part of the West Central Region of Africa. It has a population of 1.4 million and an area of 267,667 square kilometers.