At inauguration of new National Assembly complex: Biya hails Sino-Cameroon ties for architectural edifice worth 55B FCFA.

The message of President Paul Biya was conveyed by his representative, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, during the inauguration of the architectural jewel. 

The grandiose ceremony held at the esplanade of the complex last November 30. It was attended by a host of state personalities including members of government led by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute; the Senate Vice President, Senator Robert Nkili; President of Constitutional Council, Clement Atangana amongst others. 

The event was also graced by the presence of a heavy Chinese delegation led by the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Assembly of China, Zhang Qingwe, representing the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. 

In his inaugural address, the Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril said the new National Assembly Complex which is a “free gift from the People's Republic of China” is the fruit of an existing excellent ties between both nations. 

He then felicitated the Chinese and Cameroonian construction teams for the realisation of the masterpiece which he described as “the largest and most beautiful in Africa”. 

“Let us celebrate those involved in the field, and above all, let us salute the great and longstanding friendship that links your country to ours. Undoubtedly, the new complex that we are admiring at the moment is the fruit, yet another, of this rich and historic friendship,” Hon Cavaye said to the Chinese president’s representative.

He indicated that over the past five decades, both countries have shared progress and recorded several achievements in a spirit of dynamic mutually beneficial cooperation.

“Mr Vice President, I would like to thank you for this and to convey to you, through me, the gratitude of the entire Cameroonian people, the gratitude of the elected representatives who will henceforth occupy this jewel and that of the highest authorities of the Republic, headed by His Excellency Mr Paul Biya, President of the Republic, Head of State,” he added. 

Enter Chinese President representative 

Earlier in his remark, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Assembly of China, Zhang Qingwe, saluted the excellent bilateral ties between the Republics of China and Cameroon. 

Noting that the new National Assembly building symbolises the rich and fruitful cooperation between both countries, he reassured that China will always be on Cameroon's side to assist and support in whatever development agenda. 

He later symbolically handed over the keys to the new National Assembly Complex to the Speaker of the National Assembly. 

Zoom into construction of complex

Taking the guests through the journey of the construction of complex, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who doubles as President of the follow-up committee of the construction works of the new complex, Hon Datouo Théodore, said the complex project carried out by the Chinese construction company, BUCG, lasted for five years and is worth 55 billion FCFA.

Hon Datouo explained that the construction of a new National Assembly Complex was prompted by an unfortunate fire incident that ravaged the then National Assembly building on November 17, 2017. 

Following the signing of a protocol agreement between the government of Cameroon and of China same 2017, the project took-off with the laying of the foundation stone of the project in December 2019 by the National Assembly Speaker in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, Wang Yingwu. 

He, however said, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 impacted the project by halting construction works for one year. 

He said the complex then began taking shape with three major compartments which are; the Plenary Hall with a capacity of 480-seats, a 15-storey General Secretariat building and a banquet hall of about 1,000 seats. 

Apart from the main compartments, he said other structures that will harbour the fire fighting and the Gendarmerie detachments of the National Assembly were also erected.

With the entire project completed and building equipped as stipulated in the agreement between both countries, the new National Assembly complex is ready to host its legislative occupants. 

“The new National Assembly Complex is a perfect materialization of a great and long cooperation between Cameroon and China. It is a futuristic project that aligns with international standards,” Hon Datouo told the guests. 

New complex further beautifies city

In his welcome speech, the Yaounde City Mayor, Luc Messi Atangana, congratulated the Chinese and Cameroonian government for cooperating to erect such edifice which adds to the diplomatic achievements of Cameroon via the Head of State, President Paul Biya. He insisted that the new complex further beautifies the country’s political capital city that has witness several other Chinese realisations such at the construction of the Yaounde Conference Centre and the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex 

MPs, workers decorated

The inauguration ceremony was also marked by the recognition and award of State medals to some deserving members of the National Assembly, senior officials of the National Assembly as well as some members of the Chinese delegation who all worked towards the materialisation of the National Assembly complex. 

The ceremony was heavily attended the nation’s parliamentarians, senators, members of government, General Managers of state corporations, traditional and religious authorities amongst others. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3309 of Tuesday December 03, 2024