The new Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhuqiang, has acknowledged that there are “some problems” that are affecting cooperation between China and Uganda, but is optimistic that the two countries can resolve them to ensure they reap mutual benefits from the relationship.
During a reception for media organisations and think tanks that he hosted at the Chinese embassy in Kampala on March 23, Ambassador Zheng said while Uganda and China enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship, he had identified some problems.
He named some of them as trade imbalance between the two countries, quality of goods and projects coming to Uganda, and challenges in terms of securing work permits for Chinese nationals.
“To tackle these problems, we need to take an objective and sensible view. If we don’t work, there won’t be any problems whatsoever. However, we cannot let problems hold us back and do nothing at all. Challenges only make us stronger,” said the diplomat who was transferred from Botswana in December 2016 as replacement for Zhao Yali.
Guests at the function included the head of the Asia and Pacific Affairs department at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philip Odida; the head of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Dr Arthur Bainomugisha; and the Vision Group editor-in-chief Barbara Kaija.
China is the largest source country of foreign investment to Uganda ($3.07 billion as of December 2016) and the largest project contractor. Some of the projects include the Karuma hydropower plant ($1.68 billion), Isimba hydropower ($470 million), Entebbe International Airport Expansion ($200m) and the National Backbone Infrastructure Network Project ($120m).
Zheng said both Uganda and China enjoy some comparative advantages over the other, which they can exploit. He said China enjoys comparative advantage in development experience, applied technology, funds and market, while Uganda has abundant natural and human resources.
China and Uganda have enjoyed 55 years of diplomatic relations since October 18, 1962, nine days from Uganda’s Independence day, when the two countries formally established diplomatic relations.
Last month, China donated rice worth Shs 22 billion to the government to assist Uganda cope with a food crisis resulting from a recent prolonged drought.
Zheng said that China views enhancing solidarity and cooperation with African countries as a cornerstone of its independent foreign policy of peace. As a part of that effort, in December last year, China gathered African countries in Johannesburg, South Africa for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.
Zheng said the Chinese government has already implemented outcomes of the summit “in a swift and all-round way.”
“Nearly half of the $60 billion funding support that China promised to Africa at the summit has been disbursed or arranged,” he said. “Among them, China is funding Uganda to carry out electricity transmission and transformation projects in four Ugandan industrial parks and a phosphate project in Sukulu [Tororo] district.”
hobenon@observer.ug