Richard Wanambwa
9 November 2009
Kampala — President Museveni has called on world leaders to work together to end protectionism and promote industrial growth and development on the African continent.
He commended China for opening up its market for African goods and trade, adding that Uganda with its partners in the East African region, are working on regional integration for a bigger market for its goods and services.
"Africa is the land of ancient civilisation. However, we have lagged behind in social economic development. We must work together to end protectionism," he said.
President Museveni was speaking at the opening of the fourth meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) currently going on in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el Sheikh. The meeting, aimed at consolidating relationships and cooperation between the African countries and China, was chaired by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and co-chaired by the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. President Museveni told the meeting, attended by over 10 heads of state and government, that Uganda identified several necessary steps to undergo transformation 20 years ago.
"Uganda has progressed well and is on the way to social economic transformation. We are no longer dealing with an uneducated people and now focusing on skills," he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced eight new measures aimed at pushing forward China-Africa cooperation in the next three years including a proposal to establish a China-Africa partnership in addressing climate change, enhancing cooperation with Africa in science and technology.
The others are help Africa build up financing capacity by providing $10 billion in concessionary loans to African countries, and support Chinese financial institutions in setting up a special loan of $1 billion for small and medium-sized African businesses.
"For the heavily indebted countries and least developed countries in Africa having diplomatic relations with China, China would cancel their debts associated with interest-free government loans due to mature by the end of 2009," the Chinese premier said.
According to Mr Wen, whatever change may take place in the world, their policy of supporting Africa's economic and social development will not change. "Africa is fully capable of solving its own problems, in an African way," Mr Wen said, adding, "China has never attached any political strings to assistance to Africa. The Chinese people cherish sincere friendship towards the African people, and China's support to Africa's development is concrete and real.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the host, said his country was the first to recognise a new partnership with China, hailing FOCAC as a new stage of relations between the two continents that will foster peace, security and development.
He said developing countries needed more time to overcome the side effects of the global financial crisis due to the decline in investments, exports and rise of unemployment rates in addition to fewer opportunities to borrow loans from international financial institutions.
He commended the role of China in promoting Africa's development and women's empowerment through partnerships.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
