File photo of Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)

LIBREVILLE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The state of health of Gabon's head of state, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been hospitalized since October 24 in Saudi Arabia as a result of "persistent malaise and vertigo", has improved significantly, according to a statement read Sunday from the presidential palace by the spokesman of the Presidency, Ike Ngouoni.

"The state of health of the President of the Republic, Head of State, has significantly improved. This positive development has accelerated significantly in recent days," the statement said.

"Today, the President of the Republic is in a recovery phase of the fullness of his physical faculties," it said.

According to the statement, the president had "persistent discomfort and dizziness" on October 24, 2018 while he was at a hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After being examined by his personal doctor, Ali Bongo Ondimba was immediately transported to King Faysal Hospital in Riyadh for appropriate treatment and further investigation.

"Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic, Head of State continues to carry out his duties", said the statement, adding that "the institutions of our Republic are now functioning perfectly in strict compliance with the Constitution".