(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-29 15:56

YAOUNDE -- Cameroon will strengthen economic cooperation with China in the fields such as agriculture and mineral resources, Cameroonian Prime Minister Inoni Ephraim has said.

In an interview with Xinhua on Thursday, Ephraim said that Cameroon has published an investment law which encourages foreign investment in the country's agriculture, transportation and water projects.

"This is also applicable to Chinese investors," he said. He added that agriculture could be a priority area for bilateral cooperation.

Agricultural industry contributes one fifth of Cameroon's total gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 60 percent of its laborers. However, the lack of technical expertise has severely hindered its development, said the prime minister.

"I hope the cooperation between Cameroon and China will help tackle this problem," he said.

Ephraim last year invited a group of agricultural experts from China's Shaanxi Province to launch a pilot project in Cameroon, in which local farmers are taught to grow rice with hopes to add a new food on Cameroonians' dinner table.

"Our cooperation must focus on technology transfer and personnel training," he said.

Mentioning the development of mineral resources in Cameroon, Ephraim said Chinese investment would be welcomed as the Cameroonian government has published a series of policies to encourage foreign investment in its mining industry.

"Cameroon and China should establish joint ventures to develop these resources to meet the demands of international market," he said.

Ephraim said remarkable progress has been made in bilateral cooperation since Cameroon and China forged diplomatic relations in 1971. The two countries have signed a series of agreements on cooperation in economy, public health, education and cultural exchange.

These agreements have enabled Chinese enterprises to participate in Cameroon's socio-economic development, such as construction of roads and other infrastructure facilities, he said.

Statistics show that China has provided Cameroon about 100 million U.S. dollars of economic aid and bilateral trade volume exceeded 190 million dollars last year.