Jiao Jian (second from right), a dentist from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and a member of the China (Tianjin) medical team, helps a patient at China-Gabon Cooperation Hospital and both local doctors give the patient a thumbs up. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China (Tianjin) medical team sent to Gabon joined the Chinese Embassy in Gabon in cultural exchange with local communities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties between the two countries recently.

On April 19, the embassy, in collaboration with the Gabonese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

The medical team joined the events, including the football match and Chinese calligraphy learning with local communities.

Raymond Ndong Sima, Gabonese transitional prime minister, practiced Chinese calligraphy with doctors from the medical team during the event.

The team, the 25th session sent to Gabon from Tianjin's medical circle since the 1960s, consists of 26 members, including professionals from major hospitals in Tianjin specializing in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, traditional Chinese medicine, ophthalmology, stomatology, otolaryngology, anesthesia, and nursing, among others.

The team also includes two chefs and two translators.

Currently, two doctors from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital are part of the China (Tianjin) medical team in Gabon.

The medical team arrived in Gabon on November 10 last year and is scheduled to be stationed at the China-Gabon Cooperation Hospital in the capital, Libreville, as well as the China-Gabon Friendship Hospital in Franceville, conducting one year of foreign aid medical work.