The plane transporting the Presidential couple is expected to touch down at the Beijing International Airport late at midday.

All roads in the Chinese capital city of Beijing will today, March 22, 2018, lead to the Beijing International Airport at 12 Noon local time [about 5am Cameroon time], the time the plane transporting President Paul Biya and wife Chantal Biya is expected to touch down on the tar mark.

President Biya is on a State visit to the World’s most popular nation on the invitation of its President, Xi Jinping. Accompanied by his wife Chantal Biya, the President and his Chinese counterpart are expected to use the occasion to cement long standing relations between Cameroon and China.

The 13-man strong delegation accompanying the Head of State in the three-day visit, tells of the seriousness of the event with an atmosphere that is heavily pregnant with socio-economic and diplomatic discussions and negotiations. President Paul Biya is the first leader to be received by Xi Jinping following his reelection as President of the People’s Republic of China. But it is the sixth of such visits since 1987.

The first day of the visit, according to the programme communicated to the press by the Civil Cabinet, will be full of activity beginning with an official welcome ceremony organised in honour of the Cameroonian leader at the Great Hall of the People. This will be followed by a Tête-à-tête between the two Presidents.

A meeting of the two First Ladies will equally be organised at the same moment. The day will end with a State Dinner offered by the Chinese leader.  President Biya will equally be meeting with some top ranking authorities as the visit unfolds, visiting some Chinese institutions and travelling to the country’s economic city of Shanghai among others.

The President will be arriving in China within a very favourable context considering that it is taking place a few days  after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which unanimously renewed its trust to the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping.

The visit is also taking place at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, which promises to be favourable to Sino-Cameroon relations. Several qualities of the Dog such as sincerity, valour, vitality, loyalty, pragmatism and responsibility are values that form the basis of the relationship between Cameroon and China. 

China, it should be recalled, regards Cameroon as “a brotherly and friendly country”, that has always contributed significantly to the consolidation of the cordial and fruitful relationship between Africa and China. In view of the many requests for official visits recorded by China, this programme reflects a special attention and esteem for the Head of State and for Cameroon.

In this light, President Paul Biya will have the opportunity to review all aspects of bilateral cooperation including political and diplomatic, economic and technical, parliamentary and military cooperation, especially as he is expected to meet with top Chinese leaders such as: President Xi Jinping,  Premier Li Keqiang, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Assembly among others.

Talks are expected to vary on international issues of common interest like: international and sub-regional peace and security, the fight against terrorism, the protection of territorial sovereignty and integrity, global governance, international economy, global growth, and China- Africa relations.