Biya off to China for Sino-Africa summit.

It will assemble scores of African leaders and Heads of State. Biya left the country Monday via the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport. 

He is heading to the summit on the invitation of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. President Biya is accompanied by his wife, Chantal, and a delegation of state officials. 

Before boarding the aircraft, Biya gave special instructions to Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh. 

Besides the state dignitaries, some members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party, and traditional dance groups were present at the airport to bid farewell to the Head of State. 

Biya jets off from the country barely a week after returning from France, where he took part in the Paris Olympic Games on the invitation of French President, Emmanuel Macron. 

It is worth noting that this is Biya’s seventh visit to China. He first visited China as President in 1987. The last visit of President Biya to China was in March 2018.

During the said visit, five cooperation agreements were signed between both countries to consolidate bilateral relations.   

Delegation accompanying Biya 

According to a release from the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, the delegation accompanying the President to his current visit include the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo; the Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella; the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji; Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe; Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey; Minister of Transport, Ernest Ngalle Bibehe; Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi; Director of Civil Cabinet, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo; Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency, Mengot Victor Arrey-Nkongho, amongst others. 

Stakes of Sino-Africa summit

When President Biya joins his African counterparts in China, they will discuss issues of common interests like climate change, security and economic related issues.

The 2024 Sino-Africa summit to be held in the Chinese capital, has been placed under the theme: “Joining hands to advance modernisation and build a high-level China-Africa community of destiny”.

The high-level meeting, which is in its 9th edition, is aimed at strengthening the relations between China and African countries while also addressing common challenges.

The 2024 FOCAC summit is expected to be a key moment in forging a broad consensus between China and Africa. 

It will also serve as a platform for sharing development opportunities between the two continents, at a time Sino-African cooperation continues to grow in importance.

During the summit, President Paul Biya is expected to hold a tête-à-tête with his Chinese counterpart, Xl Jinping.

Discussions between the two heads of state are expected to focus on historical and the current relations between Beijing and Yaounde, and prospects for future cooperation. 

In a global context where China is stepping up its efforts to consolidate its ties with Africa, the meeting could lay the foundation for new dynamics between the two nations.

The summit comes at a crucial time when the Sino-African partnership is set to play a more significant role in world affairs, particularly in terms of economic development, infrastructure and the management of global challenges such as climate change and security. 

It is also worth noting that Cameroon’s active participation in the forum underlines the importance it attaches to its relations with China, an increasingly important partner on the international stage.

China is seen as a strategic partner to Cameroon’s emergence vision. 

President Paul Biya's visit to China will therefore be a major opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss ways of tackling global challenges while opening up new prospects for cooperation ties between the two countries.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3218 of Tuesday September 03, 2024