People-To-People Exchanges: Cameroonians Integrate Smoothly Into Chinese Society

Politique

Kimeng Hilton NDUKONG, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China | 23-04-2017 16:14

Numbering about 700 in the city of Guangzhou, they are engaged in different activities.

Relations between Cameroon and China are quite good, with increasing political and business exchanges between the two sides. This is also reflected in people-to-people interaction, especially amongst the Cameroonian community in Guangzhou, the sprawling capital city of China’s southernmost Guangdong Province. Denis Patrick Noah is a Cameroonian who has been in China for 10 years. Noah is a contractor who supplies construction material, electrical equipment and provides housing services. He also undertakes projects with the technical support of professionals.

“Cameroonians in Guangzhou are well organised and meet regularly,” he told Cameroon Tribune in Guangzhou recently. “They number about 700, with most of them being students who are not registered members,” he explained. According to Noah, the local Cameroonian community can be divided into two broad categories: “Those who understand why they are in China are earning their living well. But others do not appear to know why they came. They live their lives anyhow, not bothering about the future,” he pointed out. “We have no problems with the Chinese because they are very welcoming, open and hospitable,” Noah stated. He advised that to integrate into Chinese society, it is important to begin by learning the language as it facilitates interaction and transactions.

A Cameroonian lady who did not want her name mentioned, also said she had no problem living with her Chinese friends. The woman, who buys clothes, artificial hair, shoes, etc and resells them in Cameroon, said her major concern was the difficulties in securing Chinese visas. “I know many Cameroonians who are eager to come to China to do business or study, but cannot because of lack of visa. Government should negotiate with China to facilitate movements for our people,” she appealed.

Meanwhile, the Dengfeng Community Family Integrated Services Centre, a charity based in Guangzhou, helps in smoothening settling down procedures for foreigners. Hai Ge Wang, the Project Supervisor, told Cameroon Tribune that the centre offers Chinese language classes and organises football matches between Chinese and African teams. “Our team of four social workers also facilitates schooling and residence permit acquisition for Africans. Last year, we assisted almost 7,000 Africans,” Wang disclosed.