Cameroonian Ambassador Iya Tidjani underscored on Wednesday the excellent bilateral ties binding his country and Saudi Arabia.

“Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, the bilateral relations have grown from strength to strength, with the Kingdom supporting us in many fields,” Tidjani told Arab News.

He said that some 50 Cameroonians are enrolled in Arabic language and religious courses in Islamic universities in Madinah and Riyadh reflecting Cameroon’s deep interest in the Kingdom’s language, customs and respect for its culture.

“Discussion have also been initiated with Saudi authorities to diversify cooperation in education through these Cameroonians who could undergo scientific studies, technical and vocational training,” he said.

Noting the magnanimity of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the envoy said that a Cameroonian couple with conjoined twins had requested for a surgery to separate them.

“The conjoined twins were successfully separated on April 21, 2007 at King Abdullah’s expense. He also visited the Cameroonian family at the King Abdulaziz Medical City,” the Cameroonian ambassador said.

He added that his country was honored and thanked the king for his royal gesture.

Underlining the numerous instances of support the Kingdom has given his country, Tidjani said that the king had built an Islamic school and a mosque in a Cameroonian village and that he offers Haj services to destitute Muslims in Babanki village to enable them to perform Haj.

“Several Saudi medical missions have also visited Cameroon and attended to the health needs of hundreds of our countrymen,” he said.

He said that the Kingdom has also constructed the Ngaoundere University in the north of Cameroon and the Yaounde Islamic Complex in the country’s capital.

The Kingdom built the Garoua Mosque in the northern region of the country and offered to build a mosque and Islamic complex in Kedjum Ketingoh (or Big Babanki) in the northwest region, he said.

The economic cooperation has been extended by the Kingdom via the Saudi Fund Development (SFD) which funded the Sangmelina-Djoum Road in South Region, Ayos-Bonid Road in the Eastern Region, Foumban-Tibati Road in the Western Region, Guider-Tchonti in the Northern Region, the Douala-Yaounde highway and the Douala-Yaounde Railway.

The SFD has also funded the construction of the first factory for the production of pulp and paper (CELLUCAM) in the south of the country.

The ambassador assumed his post in the Kingdom in February 2008.