The Republic of Uganda and People’s Republic of China have committed to bolster and promote their 60-year Strategic Friendship and Cooperation towards a Shared Future.
Speaking at a Webinar Conference in honour of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries, H.E. AMB Oliver Wonekha, Uganda’s Ambassador to China, said the 60 years of friendship have seen the cordial relations between the two countries grow from strength to strength with tangible achievements to show for it.
“On October 18th, 1962, just nine days after Uganda gained independence, China and Uganda established formal diplomatic relations… History has repeatedly testified that Uganda and China are good friends who stand by each other’s side through thick and thin. In 1971, Uganda supported China’s accession to the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council,” she noted.
Wonekha added that the government of Uganda doesn’t take for granted the role the Chinese government has played in the economic growth of Uganda, especially the continued effort to industrialize Uganda and the fight to eradicate poverty and creating an enabling socio-economic environment for businesses to prosper.
She further revealed that the diplomatic relations between the two countries have always been cordial with H.E Yoweri Museveni visiting China four times with his latest visit being in June 2019 which resulted in both countries elevating the relations to that of the Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership which, she said, is an opportunity for deep cooperation in a wide range of areas with the Chinese government and its people.
In the Economic sphere through the FOCAC mechanism, she revealed that China has assisted Uganda to move faster on the path of transformation and development.
“The Chinese government has financed the construction of some of the major projects in Uganda. These include; the six-lane highway linking the capital city of Kampala to Entebbe International Airport; the construction of Karuma 600MW and Isimba 183MW Hydro Power projects, National Stadium Namboole, a 103 km road linking the western town of Fort Portal to the Democratic Republic of Congo, just to mention but a few,” Ambassador Wonekha revealed.
According to statistics by Bank of Uganda as of 2020, trade between the two countries is over USD 1 billion. Chinese investors have continued to invest in Uganda and currently, a number of industrial parks are being developed by Chinese enterprises.
She noted that in the Agriculture sector, China supported Uganda in establishing the Kibimba rice scheme and through FOFAC the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and rural affairs has signed different MoUs to provide joint working groups to work on the modernisation of agriculture.
The Ambassador asked to further the relationship between the two countries by identifying opportunities that can promote “a mutual cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples, especially investments in major key sectors like Oil, Mining, Agroprocessing, Infrastructure, ICT, Housing, and Services”.
She added: “Uganda looks forward to China facilitating market access of Ugandan agricultural products into the Chinese market.
Long live our Friendship.”
The theme for this year’s anniversary is “60 Years of Strategic Friendship and Cooperation Between Uganda and China Towards and a Shared Future in a New Era”.
Speaking at the same Conference, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda, said over the past 60 years, China and Uganda have forged unbreakable fraternity through the struggle against imperialism and colonialism.
He noted that they have embarked on a distinct path of cooperation “in our journey toward development and revitalization.”
Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, revealed that over the 60 years, they have nurtured fraternity through safeguarding international fairness and justice and enhancing political mutual trust.
“Since the early years of Uganda’s struggle against colonialism and imperialism for national independence, freedom and development, China has been providing political, moral and material support to the Ugandan people at best of her capacity. On the other hand, Uganda cast her sacred vote with dozens of other African countries in support of the UNGA Resolution 2758 which declared restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations in 1971,” he said.
Ambassador Zhang revealed that China appreciates the firm commitment of Uganda to the One-China principle, which forges the core of the diplomatic relations between Uganda and China.
He revealed President Museveni and President Xi Jinping have maintained close interaction with each other by means of visits, meetings and correspondences, among others, which has elevated bilateral relations to the level of Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership.
The Ambassador noted that that the bilateral relations between Uganda and China are at their best in History.
“I am happy to say that today our bilateral relations are at their best in history. I call upon all fields of Uganda and China to forge ahead to fulfill consensus of both our national leaders and work hand in hand to open a new chapter of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood in the next six decades and more,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Martin Muhangi, speaking on behalf of the Director General Uganda Investment Authority, Robert Mukiiza, said since the establishment of the embassies for the two countries, the Foreign Direct Investment from China has been growing exponentially.
He revealed that in the FY 2020/2021, China was the 2rd runner up to Uganda in the number of licensed projects and planned jobs.
“UIA licensed 71 projects from China, with 5,351 planned jobs. The value of the planned projects were worth USD 159bn,” he said.
Muhangi explained that China’s huge Investment in Uganda’s Industrial sector is also playing a key role in Uganda’s economic development where the establishment of Chinese-owned industrial parks across the country is a sample and evidence of China’s contribution.
“The industrial parks have made significant contribution to the industrialization of Uganda and created more than 80,000 employment for Ugandans and Chinese. This is a win—win for both countries,” he said.
China, over the past 60 years, has become one of Uganda’s largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment in major sectors that include infrastructure, construction, mining and quarrying, manufacturing and trade.