Zhu and his wife Lao An were greeted at the Yaounde International Airport by Biya and his wife, Cameroonian Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge and parliament speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril as well as Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Xu Mengshui and representatives of the Chinese residing in the central African country.

Biya held a grand and solemn ceremony at the airport to welcome the Chinese premier, with the military band playing the national anthems of the two countries.

In an arrival statement issued at the airport, Zhu expressed the hope that his visit will help further the mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations, boost their reciprocal economic cooperation and trade, and bring Sino-Cameroonian friendly and cooperative relations to a new high.

"As an important country in central Africa, Cameroon has been playing an increasing vital role in the regional, African and international affairs," Zhu said.

The Chinese and Cameroonian peoples enjoy a deep-rooted and traditional friendship, said the Chinese premier.

With the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 31 years ago, he added, China and Cameroon have scored marked achievements in cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, culture and education, and public health as well as in international affairs.

"The Sino-Cameroonian relationship is a good example of south-south cooperation," Zhu said.

During his stay in Cameroon, Zhu will exchange views with Biya and Musonge on bilateral ties and international issues of common concern and attend a Sino-Cameroonian bilateral cooperative agreement signing ceremony.

Cameroon is the third leg of Zhu's four-nation Africa tour, which will also take him to South Africa where he will attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Before his visit to Cameroon, the Chinese premier had visited Algeria and Morocco.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2002)