Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to the rank of comprehensive strategic partnership.Biya’s participation in all previous summits has demonstrated the great importance he attaches to China-Africa friendship and cooperation, as well as his profound friendship with China, Xi said.
China is ready to work with Cameroon to promote a more substantial and meaningful partnership, and push forward bilateral ties to a higher level, he said.He noted that China has always supported Cameroon in safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity, in the fight against terrorism, as well as in achieving peace and development.
China is willing to advance bilateral cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, industrial development, connectivity, agriculture and health, and help Cameroon diversify its economy, Xi said.
Mr. Biya hailed the good development of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 53 years ago.Noting that a series of China-funded projects in Cameroon have significantly boosted the country’s economic development, Biya said more Chinese companies are welcome to invest in Cameroon and help turn its advantages in mineral resources into a development momentum
A desire shared by President Paul BIYA who, in his opening statement, noted that “the fruitful cooperation” between the two countries, “as well as the ever-increasing friendship between our peoples, have raised our partnership to a high level that we hope will be strategic.” It is in this sense that the Head of State, who is on his eighth trip to China, reiterated his invitation to President Xi Jinping to make a state visit to Cameroon.
In the continuation of his speech, the President of the Republic noted “the preponderant share of Chinese direct investments” in the development of Cameroon, before calling on the government and the private sector of this friendly country to continue to invest massively in Cameroon in order to enable it to pursue its vision of emergence by 2035.
The Head of State was accompanied during this bilateral meeting by some members of his official entourage, namely: the Minister Delegate to the Presidency in charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo; the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella; the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul; the Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo; the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi; the Minister in charge of Mission at the Presidency of the Republic, Victor Arrey-Nkongho; the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey; the Minister of Transport, Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe; the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbaïrobe; the Acting Minister of Industry, Mines and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry; Cameroon’s Ambassador to China, Martin Mpana.
After this bilateral meeting, the President of the Republic and the First Lady, Mrs. Chantal BIYA, took part in the banquet offered by President Xi Jinping in honor of the Heads of State and Government present in Beijing on the occasion of the 4th FOCAC Summit.
