LIBREVILLE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Gabon's new President Ali Bongo Ondimba on Wednesday begins a two-day official visit to France, his first to the African country's former colonial power and top economic partner.

According to official sources, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will give a dinner party in his honor on Thursday in a sign to reassure the continuation of historical ties between the two countries.

Son to the late president Omar Bongo Ondimba, Ali Bongo was elected to the post during the polls held on Aug. 30, with 41.73 percent of votes. His father died on June 8 in Spain after ruling the Central African country for more than four decades.

Ali Bongo has been slowly shedding off the elements serving during his father's regime. He has dismissed many of the heavy weights of the former regime and named new personalities in charge of pushing for reforms in the country. His main challenge today is the clean up the management of public finances and the revival of the economy.