At visit of Chinese Vice PM to new National Assembly headquarters: Cavaye hails solidarity, sincerity in Sino-Cameroon cooperation ties.

He was speaking as he welcomed the Vice Prime Minister of China, Liu Guozhong, as he visited the new National Assembly headquarters being constructed. 

The Chinese official and delegation were in Cameroon for an official working visit that lasted from January 17 to 18.

The National Assembly complex costs about 55 billion FCFA from the government of the People’s Republic of China.

While wishing a warm welcome to his guest and entourage, the National Assembly Speaker expressed the gratitude of the nation’s law-making house to the people of China and its president, Xi Jinping, for the “gift” of their new complex, whose construction is soon to be completed.   
Hon Cavaye continued that Cameroon and China share one of the best friendships in Africa and the important place Cameroon occupies in the Chinese diplomacy.

According to the Cameroonian lawmaker, the people of Cameroon are strongly in support of a “one, indivisible and united China” amidst international adversities. 

He strongly believes that the visit of the Chinese vice Prime Minister to Cameroon falls in line with the wish of the presidents of both countries to reinforce the already cordial ties. 

Wants Xi Jinping, Biya to inaugurate complex

The Speaker of the National Assembly also expressed the wish of parliamentarians to have President Xi Jinping and President Paul Biya to personally inaugurate the new National Assembly Complex under construction. The complex undergoing construction is slated for completion by August 2024. 

“I would like you to transmit to His Excellency Xi Jinping our wish to see him come personally in Cameroon and accompanied by His Excellency President Paul Biya on that day of inauguration that we are all waiting with impatience,” the Speaker said. 

He continued that: “It will be indeed a feast, a big feast for Cameroonians to celebrate our secular friendship and our common new born, the new head office of the National Assembly of Cameroon. I am convinced that our wish will be answered”.   

National Assembly complex

The visiting Chinese official, through a documentary, watched the different phases of the facilities and the progress made, much to his satisfaction and that of the House Speaker who saluted the quality of work being done at the site to bring the ultramodern structure to a reality

Speaking in the documentary, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who doubles as Chairman of the Follow-up Committee, Hon Theodore Datouo, said the new National Assembly edifice stands as a flagship symbolising the evolving dynamics in Sino-Cameroonian relations and a “generous gift from the Chinese partner”.

The construction works for the architectural marvel, which commenced August 25, 2020, is due to be completed by August 2024. 

The National Assembly project includes the construction and equipping of a 512-seat hemicycle, a 1,000-seat banquet hall, a 15-storey building for administrative services, a barracks for the armed forces and fire department, transformation of the old hemicycle into a parliamentary museum, creation of a 2,000m2 parliamentary archives room, establishment of green spaces, and the connection to various networks such as electricity, water, TV, and optical fibre.

According to the National Assembly Follow-up Committee Chairman, despite the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, works still unfolded at the structure which has now been realised to about 84%.

Hon Datouo equally specified that the project, as a whole, aligns with the policy of institutional modernisation spearheaded by President of the Republic and Head of State, Paul Biya.

The visit to the new National Assembly edifice rounded off with an exchange of gift and sharing of a common meal to celebrate Cameroon’s friendship with China.