Cameroon's President Paul Biya continued his state visit to China on Friday, visiting the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation in Beijing. It's registered as a multilateral institution with the United Nations, and it's an Observer to the UN General Assembly. President Biya hailed the Organisation's role in promoting green and sustainable development in China and African countries. CGTN's Hou Na tells us more.

A visit aiming to boost green development ties between China and Cameroon. Biya's visit included a tour of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation's showroom, where he looked at handicrafts, furniture and even drainage pipes made from plant fibre. The president expressed his interest in the large number of products that can be made with bamboo and rattan, including charcoal.

PAUL BIYA PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON "Bamboo and rattan are very significant for sustainable development in Africa and across the world."

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, or INBAR, is the first intergovernmental organisation to be based in China. The organisation encourages the use of bamboo and rattan for sustainable development, including poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation and land restoration. The organisation's Director General welcomed the president's visit.

HANS FRIEDERICH, DIRECTOR GENERAL INTERNATIONAL BAMBOO & RATTAN ORGANISATION "Having the President of Cameroon visiting us during his state visit to China gives a real boost to our work in Africa and to link what we do in China."

HOU NA BEIJING "The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation was founded in 1997, it is the first intergovernmental organization established in China. Among its 43 member countries, 18 of them are in Africa."

China's bamboo industry is worth 30 billion dollars and employs almost ten million people, so there is a lot of experience to be shared and plenty of opportunity for South-South cooperation between China and Cameroon. This is not the first time a head of state has shown interest in bamboo.

In November 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping, congratulated INBAR on its "positive role" and affirmed that "China will continue to support INBAR's endeavours". INBAR's co-chair Jiang Zehui says the organisation will honor its commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

JIANG ZEHUI, CO-CHAIR INTERNATIONAL BAMBOO & RATTAN ORGANISATION "During the past twenty years, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation has played a positive role in promoting poverty alleviation in producing areas, boosting trade in bamboo and rattan products and facilitating sustainable development."

At the end of the tour, President Biya presented a signed statement, congratulating INBAR on its work. He said Cameroon looks forward to working more closely with INBAR to develop the bamboo and rattan industry and inspire sustainable development across Central Africa. HOU NA, CGTN, BEIJING.