The leaders of Uganda and China have marked 60 years since their two countries established diplomatic relations, paying homage to a mutual drive by Kampala and Beijing to strengthen ties in an increasingly interdependent world.
They had forged diplomatic ties shortly after Uganda attained independence from Britain in October 1962 when China was an emerging economic power in Asia.
To mark the milestone in relations Ugandan President Yoweri Mueveni and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages, pointing out that their nations’ ties had stood the test of time and grown even stronger.
In recent years, the two countries have established a comprehensive cooperative partnership, with increasingly consolidated mutual trust and continuously deepened cooperation in various fields.
The two countries have backed each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns, and maintained close collaboration in international and regional affairs.
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ugandan and Chinese peoples had rendered assistance to each other in solidarity, adding a new chapter to the China-Uganda friendship.
Museveni said that over the 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Uganda and China have maintained close coordination and collaboration, and jointly pushed for the implementation of many major cooperation projects.
”The sound relationship between the two countries has always been full of vitality. Uganda will stay committed to promoting the development of Uganda-China relations. I believe that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will continue to deepen, delivering more benefits to the two peoples and contributing to world peace, stability and cooperation” the Ugandan leader added.
The Chinese leader Xi said China, the world’s second most powerful economy, attaches great importance to the development of relations with Uganda and was ready to work with President Museveni to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in various fields within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
He said this would be beneficial to the two countries and their peoples and jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
WN/as/APA