Jeje Odongo Backs Global South Unity at China-Africa Summit

Changsha, Hunan Province — Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo Abubakhar delivered Uganda’s national statement at the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions from the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The meeting, currently underway in Changsha City, is a key milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between China and African countries.

The session was officially opened by China’s Foreign Minister H.E. Wang Yi, who welcomed the African delegations and outlined five key proposals aimed at promoting high-quality China-Africa cooperation.

He emphasised the need for mutual support and solidarity among Global South nations, openness and commitment to international free trade, cooperation for shared development, upholding justice and a fair international order and cultural exchange and mutual learning to enrich global civilisation.

Minister Wang also read a congratulatory message from H.E. President Xi Jinping, in which the Chinese leader announced the extension of zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China.

He also reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting least developed African nations through enhanced trade facilitation and pledged continued implementation of the 10 partnership actions to deepen modernisation and cooperation under the FOCAC framework.

Beneficial partnership

In his statement, Hon. Odongo expressed gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for hosting the meeting and commended the ongoing cooperation under FOCAC.

He highlighted Uganda’s major development achievements as outcomes of this partnership, including large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, Karuma Hydropower Plant, and Isimba Hydropower Plant.

He further acknowledged the value of concessional loans and grants extended to Uganda by China, particularly in agriculture and social sectors—key pillars of Uganda’s Agro-Industrialisation and Inclusive Growth Agenda.

Hon. Odongo also shared Uganda’s 10-fold growth strategy, which is built around: agro-industrialisation, tourism development, mineral-based industrialisation, oil and gas (petrochemical) development and knowledge economy advancement.

He identified several enablers essential to the realisation of Uganda’s national development goals, including the expansion of digital infrastructure, the development of industrial parks, ICT adoption, human capital development, and the construction of strategic roads such as the Kibuye–Busega Highway. He also stressed the importance of irrigation systems to support agricultural productivity and infrastructure to facilitate digital health information systems.

Bilateral Meeting with CIDCA

On the sidelines of the meeting, Hon. Odongo held discussions with Mr. Chen Xiaodong, Chair of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The two leaders reviewed the progress of ongoing FOCAC-funded projects in Uganda and explored potential new areas of cooperation aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (NDPIV) and the broader 10-fold economic transformation agenda.

Key outcomes

The Ministerial Meeting concluded with the adoption of three major documents: China–Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, a List of Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Action of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC and a Concept Paper for the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

These documents underscore the continued commitment of China and Africa to implement shared development goals, deepen political trust, and strengthen people-to-people ties, laying a solid foundation for a resilient and inclusive China–Africa community with a shared future.