On January 31, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is on a state visit to Cameroon, held talks with his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya in Yaounde. Both sides exchanged views on China-Cameroon and China-Africa ties, as well as other major issues of common concern and reached important consensus. They agreed to make joint efforts to push for in-depth development of China-Cameroon friendly cooperative ties and a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.
Hu said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 36 years ago, the traditional friendship between the two peoples has been deepened continuously and the friendly cooperative relations have witnessed steady and sound development with fruitful achievements. The political exchanges and cooperation have strongly strengthened political trust between the two countries and have become a foundation of their friendly cooperation, he said. The deepening economic and trade cooperation in multiple forms has been a priority area for closer cooperation and the social and humanities cooperation, which helps build up mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, has become an important facet of deepened cooperation. The Cameroonian government resolutely adheres to the one-China policy and has offered precious support to China on Taiwan, human rights and other questions, which China deeply appreciates, said Hu.
Hu pointed out that practice has proven the China-Cameroon friendly cooperation, which has strongly promoted development and progress of both sides, conforms to the fundamental interest of the two countries and their peoples. In compliance with the implementation of the commitments made at the Beijing Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Hu put forward proposals on developing bilateral ties in the following four aspects. First, Hu proposed that China and Cameroon promote mutual political trust and cooperation by intensifying communication at all levels and supporting and assisting each other on key issues involving each other's interests. Second, He suggested more efforts be made on economic and trade cooperation that would benefit both countries, and ensure cooperation projects under construction to be completed on time with good quality. Both sides should give play to their economic complementarity and focus on mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of agriculture, primary products processing, infrastructure, energy and telecommunications. Third, Hu urged both sides to keep closer exchanges and cooperation in the social and humanities areas, especially in education, health, culture, sports and tourism, and encourage expanded contacts between the women and youth organizations of both sides. Fourth, Hu also called for enhancing coordination and cooperation in multilateral areas and maintaining communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, in an effort to safeguard the just rights and interests of developing countries and jointly promote the building of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.
Biya said bilateral ties are based on a firm basis of equality and mutual respect. Over the years, the friendship between the two countries has been deepened continuously with fruitful mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas, he said. The two countries have always shown mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's major interests, with which Cameroon is deeply satisfied, he added. "China is the great friend of Cameroon and Cameroon is the sincere friend of China," he said, adding that Cameroon firmly supports China's endeavor to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Biya expressed thanks for China's assistance to support Cameroon's economic and social development. Biya said the two countries have made gratifying progress in cooperation in the areas of infrastructure construction, agriculture, energy and telecommunications and Cameroon has been making efforts to improve its investment environment and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in his country.
On Africa's situation and China-Africa relations, Hu said Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries and the world peace and development can not proceed without the stability and prosperity in Africa. Hu expressed China's appreciation and support for Africa's development and progress. Hu summed up the characteristics of the Sino-African ties as sincere friendship, equality and mutual benefit, solidarity and cooperation, and common development, which are aimed at bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese and African people through pragmatic cooperation. "China has never imposed its own ideology, social system and development pattern upon others, nor gained its own interest at the cost of others'," he said. China attaches great importance to the implementation of the commitments made at the Beijing summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation and will make an overall plan in compliance with specific projects and carry out various policy measures step by step in the principles of friendly consultations, pragmaticalness and high efficiency according to the practical needs of African nations, in a bid to enhance the capability of African countries for independent development and bring benefits to the people in the continent as soon as possible. Hu said he believed that with the gradual implementation of the commitments made in the Beijing summit, the Sino-African cooperation will usher in a new chapter at a "larger, broader and high level." Hu expressed his belief that the African continent will surely realize its social stability and economic rejuvenation with unremitting efforts of all African countries and support of the international community.
Biya said poverty and backwardness have posed threats to peace and stability in Africa and the world at large and African people are earnestly looking forward to China-Africa cooperation. The eight measures on promoting China-Africa pragmatic cooperation announced by President Hu in the Beijing summit have "brought hope for Africa and opened a bright prospect for Sino-African cooperation based on equality and mutual respects," he said. The two countries have increased consensus on international and regional issues and Cameroon is ready to make joint efforts with China to promote the development of China-Africa ties, said Biya.
Both sides also exchanged views on the situation in Africa, and how to give play to the leading role of the United Nations (UN) in promoting world peace and development.
After their talks, Hu and Biya attended the signing ceremony of eight bilateral cooperation documents covering such areas as economic and technological cooperation, health, education and communications.
Prior to the talks, Hu attended a grand welcoming ceremony hosted by Biya. Thousands of Cameroonian people sang and danced, giving the Chinese guests from afar a warm welcome.
On the same day, Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing, along with Biya and his wife, attended a cultural gala with an ethnic performance by Chinese and Cameroonians.
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and other accompanying officials attended the above activities.