Cameroonian Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Gabriel Dodo Ndoke (R, front) and General Manager of Sinosteel Cam S.A. Zheng Zhenghao exchange the agreement documents in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 6, 2022. Photo:Xinhua

China has expressed appreciation over the Cameroonian government's positive remarks addressing a recent iron ore mining deal and supports the steady progress of the project to benefit the people of both countries, the Chinese Embassy in Cameroon stated on Friday (local time), after Cameroonian government clarified rumors surrounding the project.

Chinese company Sinosteel Corp's iron mining project in Cameroonian village Lolabe, which was signed earlier this month, has sparked opposition from local residents, US media outlet VOA reported on Monday, playing up the conflict and suggesting the deal lacks validity.

China was aware of the media reports, and the Cameroonian government had refuted groundless rumors, the Chinese Embassy in Cameroon told the Global Times in a written reply on Friday.

Gabriel Dodo Ndoke, Cameroon's mines minister, on Wednesday clarified that the project contract strictly abides by Cameroon's current mining law, and the project fully considers the interests of Cameroon and of local people, which is mutually beneficial and a case of win-win cooperation, the embassy said.

China appreciates the Cameroonian government's positive remarks, the embassy said, adding that China will always be a good partner of Cameroon on the road of development, and is willing to support Chinese enterprises to carry out mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with Cameroon, and steadily advance the project construction to benefit the two peoples.

On May 6, Sinosteel Cam S.A., a subsidiary of the China's multinational Sinosteel Corporation Ltd, signed the more than $700 million deal with the Cameroonian government and obtained the permit to exploit iron ore in a mine. The project is expected to produce 4 million tons of iron ore concentrate at over 60 percent every year when the final implementation is put into operation, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"It is ecologically sustainable and economically rewarding. Sinosteel has technical and financial means … This project that will soon start will bring to our country a lot of opportunities," Ndoke said after the signing ceremony, Xinhua reported.

Global Times