Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – The hallmark of Cameroon’s Head of State, Paul Biya’s fifth State visit to the People’s Republic of China, is the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries in the economic, technical, health, tourism and cultural domains.

Cameroon government sources say the agreements were signed on July 20, 2011 on the first day of the three-day visit that ends Friday, July 22, 2011. Chinese and Cameroonian senior government officials signed the agreements on behalf of their respective countries under the watchful eyes of visiting President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the host Chinese President, Hu Jintao.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon and HIs Chinese Counterpart

Minister Louis Paul Motaze of Cameroon’s Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development and his Chinese counterpart signed five economic and technical cooperation agreements.

They include the non interest loan of 100 million Yuan (about FCFA 7 billion) for the execution of economic and technical cooperation projects agreed by the two governments and a framework agreement in which China will provide 433 million Yuan (about FCFA 31 billion) preferential loan for the e-post project in Cameroon.

China equally agreed to supply medical equipment to the Gynaecological- Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital under construction in Cameroon’s economic port city of Douala amounting to 10 million Yuan (about FCFA 713 million). The two governments also signed documents in which China will supply medical equipment for the anti-malaria fight estimated at 1.5 million Yuan (about FCFA 107 million).

Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Henri Eyebe Ayissi also on behalf of government signed another agreement with the Chinese government on the execution of existing cultural agreements, while Minister Baba Hamadou signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism organisation.

President Paul Biya addressing officials during a working session, said Cameroon has embarked on an extensive socio-economic programme referred to as the policy of greater achievements, geared towards implementing major development projects nationwide.

“This programme is the translation of a ten-year growth and employment strategy and a long –term vision aimed at making Cameroon an emerging country by 2035”, he explained.

He said, to realise the programme, Cameroon counts on its own human and natural resources and cooperation with external partners. “And I am pleased to affirm that China counts among our most reliable and most faithful external partners”, Mr Biya concluded.