YAOUNDE, Jan. 25 -- The two MA60 planes acquired by the Cameroonian government from China for the national carrier, Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co), began operations over the weekend between the capital Yaounde and Douala, the commercial capital.

The inaugural flight had on board Cameroon's Transport Minister Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o, China's ambassador to Cameroon Wei Wenhua, the vice-president of Avic International which manufactured the planes Xu Bo and many other Cameroonian political and business leaders.

"I am a witness of the reliability of these planes," the transport minister said in his speech at a ceremony organized at Yaounde-Nsimalen international airport, at the end of the inaugural flights of the two aircrafts as the country awaits the official start of commercial flights in March.

The minister recalled that since 2012, the Cameroonian defense and security forces have made successful missions using the MA60 planes.

Avic International's vice president said since launching commercial flights in 2005, the company has grown by leaps and bounds.

"To date, there are six domestic operators who fly 44 MA60 planes. At the same time, there are 21 foreign operators who fly 57 planes," he said.

Some of its foreign customers include Air Zimbabwe which was the first African airline to purchase the MA60 plane in 2004.

According to Air Zimbabwe director general Edmund Makoma who was invited to the ceremony by the Cameroonian authorities, his company has three MA60 planes. He said the company offers the African continent more affordable air transport services.

According to Xu, the MA60 plane does not require a high standard of airport conditions to operate.

"It can land practically on any runway at a secondary airport in any of Cameroon's regional capitals," Xu said, adding that this is why the planes can serve any of Cameroon's domestic flights.

Camair-Co will also use the MA60 planes to fly to regional capitals such as Libreville in Gabon, Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, Bangui in Central African Republic and N'Djamena in Chad.

China's ambassador in Cameroon said the cooperation with Yaounde authorities illustrates his country's willingness to support the construction of a regional aviation network between African countries, through supply of planes, training of personnel, technological transfer and improvement of infrastructure.

According to an introduction by the manufacturer on its website, the MA60 passenger aircraft can accomodate up to 56 passengers. More than 100 MA60 planes have been delivered since 2005 in 16 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa.