The Republic of Congo, referred to as "Congo (Brazzaville)", and Congo (Kinshasa) are bounded by the Congo River and the Ubangi River. The capitals of the two countries are only separated by a river and face each other across the bank. The country straddles the equator, has numerous rivers, dense forests, and rich natural resources. Oil and timber are the backbone of its economic development. The Republic of the Congo was originally a French colony and became independent in 1960. It has traditional friendly relations with China and is one of the key countries for China's economic and trade cooperation with Africa. This book presents readers with an overview of the history, politics, economy, military, society, culture and diplomacy of the Republic of the Congo.
