At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Paul Biya has departed for Beijing to attend the China-Africa summit, scheduled to take place from September 4-6, 2024.
“At the invitation of His Excellency Xi JINPING, President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Paul BIYA left Yaounde late this morning, accompanied by First Lady Chantal BIYA, to attend the 4th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation,” the presidency’s communication unit wrote on X.
The Civil Cabinet of the Presidency announced that President Biya left the country this afternoon. According to a press release from the Civil Cabinet, he is accompanied by 15 high-profile government officials and his wife, Chantal Biya.
President Biya was originally scheduled to depart for the China-Africa Summit on Sunday, September 1, but the trip was abruptly canceled at the last minute. The Civil Cabinet has not provided any explanation for this unusual cancellation, fueling speculation about a possible health issue.
This departure comes less than a week after President Biya returned from an extended foreign trip that lasted nearly a month in France and Switzerland.
Several other Africa leaders have also travelled to Beijing for the China-Africa Summit.
