Rugunda holds talks with China's Yang

Wang Yang receives a bouquet upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Xinhua Photo

The chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Yang has held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

Yang who arrived on Wednesday evening, is in the country for a three day visit on Rugunda's invitation.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Ruganda receives a gift from Wang Yang. The gift symbolically explains the fast speed at which Uganda is developing. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

Wang Yang received a crested crane painting to symbolise the peaceful relationship between the two countries. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

His visit will include tours to cultural and industrial facilities, as well infrastructure projects such as the Entebbe Expressway.

Yang will also hold bilateral talks with President Yoweri Museveni, the Vice-President, Edward Sekandi and Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.

The third CPPCC national committee that Wang Yang has headed since March is a political advisory body in the people's Republic of China. 

Yang signs the visitors book as Ruganda looks on. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

China is at the centre of constructing the country's key infrastructure projects such as the Entebbe express way and Isimba hydropower dam.

Apart from Chinese companies taking up major investments and projects worth billions, the Chinese Government is also a leading source of funding for development in the country.

China's Ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhu Qiang, said he was optimistic that Yang's visit will bring more consensuses on expanding the fields of the China-Africa co-operation.

By the end of 2016, Chinese firms in Uganda were valued at $4.2b, an equivalent of almost sh15 trillion total investments.

China is also Uganda's biggest partner with bilateral trade volumes exceeding $978m. There are close to 200 Chinese enterprises in Uganda investing in a variety of sectors.