Deepened exchanges pledged with Uganda

China will continue to provide unwavering support in helping Uganda attain its development targets, a senior Communist Party of China official has said on a visit to the East African country.

Li Mingxiang, vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting with leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement, or NRM, in the capital Kampala on Wednesday.

A CPC delegation led by Li is making a three-day visit to Uganda to implement a series of consensuses reached between the countries. The visit is also intended to deepen exchanges and cooperation between the CPC and the NRM.

Li said that the friendship between China and Uganda has reached new heights, with bilateral trade standing at $1.4 billion last year, up by 6.6 percent year-on-year. China has also granted duty-free privilege to 98 percent of the products Uganda exports to China.

"We are forging ahead to realize the grand blueprint set by the 20th CPC National Congress as Uganda is making enduring efforts to realize Vision 2040," Li said. "This has brought a bright future for our cooperation, and China stands ready to work with the Ugandan side to enhance cooperation at all levels."

He asserted that China remains committed to common development in a peaceful environment for the benefit of every country.

NRM Secretary-General Richard Todwong congratulated the CPC for the success of its 20th National Congress, held in October.

"We learned during the congress that you discussed the modernization of common property, modernization of material and cultural advancement, and modernization between humans and nature. This is crucial for us because we are battling climate change. We shall borrow a leaf from China on how to preserve and protect our environment," he said.

Todwong added that the NRM is ready to work with the CPC in areas of peace and development while upholding the principle of noninterference in the affairs of the other countries.

"These are values that we cherish, these are values that we uphold. And we look up to China because some of these critical areas are where we believe we should have mutual respect," he said.

The writer is a freelance reporter for China Daily.