FOCAC 2024 : Solemn Opening Today In Beijing

It has been a busy schedule for the Head of State, President Paul Biya who arrived in the Chinese capital yesterday 4 September, 2024 in the company of the First Lady Mrs Chantal Biya. After the arrival protocol formalities both at the airport and the St Regis Hotel, the Head of State quickly settled to work and is today ready to join his African peers and President Xi Jinping of China at the official opening ceremony of the main event that the Chinese leader invited him to attend in Beijing.

Thus, the President of the Republic is set to take part at the official ceremony to kick-start the 4th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Conference (FOCAC) today 5 September, 2024 at the China National Convention Centre in downtown Beijing. The 4th FOCAC which has been the subject of many sideline meetings during the week will officially end tomorrow.

President Paul Biya whose aircraft touched down at the Beijing International Airport at 9:30 AM local time (2:30 AM in Yaounde) is accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya. On hand to receive them at the airport were the Chinese Vice Minister in charge of Housing, Mr. WANG HUE, the Vice President of the Chinese Communist National Assembly in the Beijing Municipality, Mrs PANG LI CHUEN, the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Wang Yingwu, the Ambassador of Cameroon to China, H.E. Martin Mpana and wife.

Immediately after the airport protocol, the Presidential motorcade headed straight to the St Regis Hotel where the Presidential Couple and their entourage are based in Beijing. Apart from young Malika Zhao and Mbida Etoua Gabriel who offered bouquets of flower to President Paul Biya and Mrs Chantal Biya, there were cabinet Ministers, some senior staff of the Presidency, heads of some State-owed companies who are in the official entourage of the Head of State and senior workers at the Cameroon Embassy in China that had the privilege to shake hands with the Head of State and wife. Concerning the solemn official ope- ning ceremony today at 10 AM Beijing time, there will be a sp...