Chinese governor holds talks with PM Rugunda

DIPLOMACY

By Subaiha Nakandi and David Lumu                  

KAMPALA - The governor of Hunan province in China, Xu Dazhe, has held bilateral talks with Uganda's Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, highlighting potential investment priorities for Chinese businessmen and women.

During the meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, Rugunda and Dazhe emphasised the need for Uganda and China to work together for the betterment of the citizens - especially the need to propel industrial growth, agriculture, tourism and mining.

"The governor shared samples of five crops for us to evaluate and if found good, we can take and use for our agricultural production.

"These include maize, rice, cotton, sunflower and wheat," Rugunda said, during the bilateral talks between Dazhe's delegation and the Ugandan team at Serena Hotel in Kampala.

Rugunda also welcomed the intention of Chinese investors to inject money in agriculture, tourism, mining, power generation and the development of industrial parks in Uganda.

Hunan a large economy With a population of 73 million people, Hunan province's economy, which is largely agricultural, contributes a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) capital base of $440b to the Chinese general economy. According to the World Bank, Uganda's GDP is $25b. This means that the economy of Hunan is almost 17 times bigger than that of Uganda. Hunan is the 7th most populous province of China and the 10th most extensive by area. A mountainous province in southern China, Hunan was the early home of Communist leader Mao Zedong.

 

Governor Dazhe and Prime Minister Rugunda met in Kampala

'Uganda a key partner'

By injecting money in the country's industrialisation process, Rugunda said, Chinese investors from Hunan will enhance the need to add value to several products that Uganda produces.

On his part, Dazhe said he was happy to be in Uganda, saying his visit symbolises the need for joint development co-operation between his country and Uganda.

"Uganda is my first destination in this visit to Africa. We regard Uganda as a key partner in our cooperation with Africa. We are looking forward for more fruits coming out of our co-operation," he said.

Dazhe,  who started his four-day visit on Wednesday, will hold talks with President Yoweri Museveni, before leaving the country on Saturday.

Uganda's envoy to China Dr Crispus Kiyonga (left) greets the visiting Chinese governor

 

 

At the Office of the Prime Minister, Daxhe signed in the visitors book as Kiyonga and Rugunda looked on

 

 

The Hunan governor is in Uganda until Saturday

 

 

During the bilateral talks, Rugunda and his high profile visitor discussed investment key priorities

 

 

"The governor shared samples of five crops for us to evaluate and if they are good, we could use them for our agricultural production," said the Prime Minister

 

 

Rugunda received an ancient Chinese scroll painting from Dazhe, one of the most famous in China

 

 

 

 

Rugunda gifted the Chinese governor with a painting of long-horned cattle

 

 

Dazhe later led a 20-member delegation to the Kampala Serena Hotel for a meeting with Rugunda and a team of government officials

 

 

During the meeting, Prime Minister Rugunda told Chinese investors that with an East African population of 160 million and that of COMESA of 480 million, the market for processed products by Chinese factories in Uganda is secured

 

 

Dazhe pledged that Hunan would sign the general co-operation framework to solidify "a promising aspect of co-operation" between Uganda and China

 

 

Dhaze will hold talks with President Yoweri Museveni, before departing on Saturday