His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon, and First Lady Chantal BIYA are currently in Italy where the former will pay a State visit from 20 to 22 March 2017. The Presidential Couple are in Rome at the invitation of H.E. Sergio MATTARELLA, President of the Italian Republic.

The Head of State and his wife were welcomed at the Rome Ciampino Military Airport by Claudio De VINCENTI, Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Southern Italy; the Ambassador of Cameroon to Italy, Mr. Dominique AWONO ESSAMA, and his wife; the Ambassador of Cameroon to the Holy See, Antoine ZANGA, and his wife; the Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, Samuela ISOPI; and the General Commander of the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome.

At the airport, the Cameroonian Presidential Couple had a foretaste of the protocol arrangements that the Italian Presidency has mobilised ahead of the official reception ceremony on Monday 20 March 2017 at the Palais du Quirinale (Presidency of the Italian Republic). A guard of honour, comprised of the Italian Air Force, aligned along the red carpet unrolled for the occasion. Also present was the famous Italian Carabinieri.

President Paul BIYA and his wife then greeted the members of the official delegation composed of Ministers: Le Jeune MBELLA MBELLA (External Relations); Louis Paul MOTAZE (Economy, Planning and Regional Development); Emmanuel NGANOU DJOUMESSI (Public Works); Jacques FAME NDONGO (Higher Education); HAMADOU MOUSTAPHA (Chargé de Mission at the Presidency of the Republic); MENGOT Victor ARREY-NKONGHO (Chargé de Mission at the Presidency of the Republic); Paul ELUNG CHE (Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget at the Ministry of Finance); Joseph LE (Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet); and Special Advisers: Luc SINDJOUN and Joseph FOUDA.

The Presidential Couple moved to the Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Rome, where a large crowd of the Cameroonian community in Italy, mostly members and sympathisers of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) cheered them. The latter reserved a very warm and enthusiastic reception to the Head of State and his spouse.

President Paul BIYA officially begins his State visit to Italy on Monday 20 March 2017. He will hold a meeting with President Sergio MATARELLA at the Palais du Quirinale.

It should be recalled that the President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Sergio MATARELLA, paid a State visit to Cameroon from 17 to 20 March 2016. On this occasion the two Heads of State welcomed the excellent ties that existed between the two countries and agreed to explore ways that could lead these relations to higher heights. No doubt they will seize this new meeting to realise this commitment.