The Prime Minister Philemon Yang on Monday October 29 had a working session with German delegation.

The visiting German delegation, headed by the Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel has proposed cooperation with Cameroon in the sector of national land use plan aimed at curbing land conflicts and encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources for economic development.

The delegation members had a working session with some Cameroon cabinet ministers led by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang at the Star Building yesterday, October 29, 2012. The working session was attended by the Ministers of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye and that of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, as well as the Prime Minister's close collaborators.

Talking to the press after the over one and a half hour working session, Dirk Niebel said they offered cooperation with Cameroon in the land use sector to enable the country effectively use the same piece of land for diverse activities while ensuring the safety of natural resources, environmental protection and exploiting the natural resources for economic development. He said, "The natural resources and environment can be saved and the people also have the chance to a better life, income, productivity and more economic growth to fight poverty in the country." Minister Dirk Niebel said the combination of natural resources and sustainable economic growth are important because they belong together. He cited the agriculture and forest sectors that need the sustainable use of the natural resources for economic development.

Stating that Germany intends to strengthen cooperation with Cameroon, Dirk Niebel said it was important for his delegation to come to Cameroon to "know what we can do better and what sectors we can engage in the more." He disclosed that in the next Cameroon-German inter-governmental negotiations in 2013, they will better know the sectors on which to concentrate.

Opening the working session that later on continued in-camera, Prime Minister Philemon Yang, stated that German- Cameroon relations started during the colonial era. He expressed delight that bilateral relations were developing in a sustainable manner and wished the visit will be an occasion to further strengthen them.