Cameroonians and friends of Cameroon joined Ambassador Martin Mpana in Beijing Friday for the 44th National Day celebrations.

Cameroonians resident in China and friends of the country on Friday May 20,2016, came out en masse to show solidarity with the defence forces working tirelessly to ensure security and to avail themselves for the national cause of preserving peace and fostering unity.

They joined the rest of Cameroonian citizens within and without the country in celebrating the 44th National Day with activities depicting the theme of the celebrations – “Defence forces and dynamic forces of the nation standing together to combat terrorism, preserve peace and territorial integrity.” There was no distinction of race, colour or linguistic background, but a show of oneness to enhance peace and unity and give socio-economic development a chance.

A reception organised by Cameroon’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Martin MPana and wife Mrs Bofia Daka Mpana at the Westin Beijing Chaoyang was a crowd-puller. The diplomatic corps in China, Cameroonians resident there as a well as a cream of Chinese and other friends of Cameroon answered present in a veritable show of solidarity.

In a toast, Mr Mpana besides thanking all and sundry for the massive turnout said Cameroon has always relied on the support of her friends and will do so the more now that security is at stake especially when the country has negotiated an irreversible bend towards becoming a middle-income economy.

He enjoined Cameroonians in China to mobilise themselves and get united to be stronger in what they do as well as chip in their valuable contributions to nation-building. “Cameroonians in China are not out of the national context. The Boko Haram barbaric actions have not left us indifferent given that people have lost their lives and others displaced. We feel very saddened. Last year we raised funds to support the fight and China has been assisting us in this domain,” he said.