Defense Minister Dong Jun met in Shanghai on Thursday the heads of delegations attending the second symposium on the security situation in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to a news release from the ministry, Dong said in the meeting that the Gulf of Guinea is a shared homeland for regional countries and serves as an important link for enhancing China-Africa exchanges and cooperation, as well as building a maritime community with a shared future.

He expressed China's willingness to work alongside the militaries of regional countries to shoulder the common responsibility of maintaining security, advance more systematic maritime cooperation, and continue the tradition of sincere unity and friendship.

Dong emphasized the hope that all parties will work together to effectively transform the consensus reached at this symposium into tangible cooperation outcomes, benefiting the people of the region and actively contributing to the construction of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

The heads of delegations attending the meeting, including Nigerian chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla and Charles Hubert Bekale Meyong, chief of Naval Staff for the National Navy of Gabon, said that the security of the Gulf of Guinea is crucial for regional countries, according to the release.

They expressed the willingness of regional countries to strengthen strategic communication with China, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and jointly build a safe, stable, and prosperous Gulf of Guinea.