Chinese premier calls for closer cooperation with Uganda

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Uganda's Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, also secretary general of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement, prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday that China is willing to work with Uganda to strengthen friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Uganda's Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Li said China and Uganda enjoy a traditional friendship and sound development in bilateral relations.

He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni reached new agreements regarding developing bilateral ties during the fifth summit of the BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

China is willing to work with Uganda to advance bilateral relations as well as party-to-party ties, strengthen cooperation in various fields including infrastructure construction, energy and agriculture, develop new fields for cooperation, and bring benefits to the two peoples, he said.

He pointed out that strengthening unity and cooperation with African countries is an important foundation for China's foreign policy and a long-term and resolute strategic choice of China's.

China will support African countries to enhance their capacity to achieve development themselves, make efforts to convince the international community to further invest in, and pay more attention to, Africa, and make joint efforts to promote peace, development and prosperity in Africa.

Mbabazi, also secretary general of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), congratulated China on its great achievements and voiced hopes of strengthening the partnership with China, enhancing party-to-party communication, expanding pragmatic cooperation in all fields and making greater progress in bilateral ties.

Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the meeting.