China To Boost Military Cooperation With Cameroon

Military cooperation between Cameroon and the People's Republic of China is now set to increase following the posting of the country's first ever Defence Attaché to Cameroon last month.

Col. Major Yang Xu, who arrived in the country on July 16, 2013, was presented to the authorities and foreign diplomats in Yaounde on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 on the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army of China. Speaking at the event, the Chargé d'Affaires in the Chinese Embassy, Li Changlin, said though military cooperation ties between the two countries have been growing over the years, the posting of a Defence Attaché will make a difference by raising cooperation to a higher level. Col. Major Yang Xu, 45, is not new to Africa as he has before served in Congo (Brazzaville) and Tunisia.

The Ministry of Defence was represented at the function by its Permanent Secretary, Hamadou Vindjedou. It was also attended by defence advisers, diplomats and national dignitaries. The anniversary celebration also featured a television documentary and photo exhibition on the activities of the People's Liberation Army of China in disaster relief efforts at home and U.N. peacekeeping missions in Africa.

August 1 is celebrated as Army Day in China. The People's Liberation Army of China, PLA was founded in 1927, following a bloody uprising in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province. PLA had its genesis as the Red Army and has since taken different names such as the New Fourth Route Army, Eighth Route Army and finally, the People's Liberation Army. The PLA encompasses the Army, Navy and Air Force, including its Second Artillery (the nuclear component).