Looking at the multifaceted nature of the cooperation that China is building with Cameroon, President Paul Biya who is accompanied to Beijing by a large delegation of Cabinet Ministers ordered some of the government officials yesterday 3 September, 2018 to grant a series of audiences to Chinese business partners before the opening ceremony of FOCAC in the afternoon.

Consequently, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey had discussions with the African and East Asian President of Huawei Global, Li Dafeng. Mr Li presented the advantages that Cameroon has from working with Huawei and some projects the company intends to continue executing in the country.

For over ten years now, Huawei has been the main partner Cameroon has in the development and implantation of the telecommunications and optical fibre connection in the country.

After the discussions with Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey Mr Li Defang and the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella signed an accord on a Strategic Partnership for the Development of Information Technologies (IT) in Cameroon by Huawei. Different high officials of Huawei have been granted audiences by President Paul Biya in four occasions (2010, 2011, 2017 and 2018) both in Yaounde and China.

When the Head of State came to China for a State visit in March this year, he was received as guest of honour at the Huawei Headquarters in China. Other discussions from which Cameroon hopes to negotiate economic gains for the population include the one between the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba and the Managing Director of China Machinery Engineering Corporation which is involved in the project to supply potable water in Yaounde. Minister Gaston Essomba also had instructions to take interest in the activities presented by the Vice President of China Gezhouba, a hydroelectricity company.

For his part, Minister Ernest Ngwaboubou of Industry, Mines and Technological Development had discussions with the General Manager of TBEA Company Ltd that is involved in the electricity sector as well while the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena Ngale Bibehe had talks with the Managing Director of Star Times involved in modernising the Cameroon Radio Television and the AVIC International Holding Corporation, an aviation company.

The Director General of ANHUI Easy Business Digital Technology Company Limited that wants to work in partnership with ANOR on e-governance held a meeting with the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.

There was also the Minister in Charge of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor Arrey Mengot who held talks with the Managing Director of Hydromine and its Chinese partners.