On November 21, 2013, the Dialogue of China-East Africa Community(EAC) was held in Kampala, Capital city of Uganda. Mr. Xia Geng, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, Mr. Bing Zhigang, Vice Governor of Liaoning Province, Ms. Wang Lixia, Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province, Mr. Feng Zuoku, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zhao Yali, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mr. Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, Mr. Edward Sekandi, Vice President of Uganda, the Ministers of Local Government from EAC countries and the businessmen from China and EAC, totaling about 260 guests, attended the Dialogue.

Ugandan President, H.E. Mr. Yoweri Museveni praised the profound friendship between China and EAC established during the struggling of national independence. He said that China and Uganda have great potential in the field of mining, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure. The bilateral cooperation on the basis of mutual-respect is beneficial to each other’s development and the global economy. We believe that the Dialogue will contribute more to the further promotion of bilateral cooperation partnership and the strengthening of traditional friendship.

Mr. Xia Geng, Head of the Chinese Delegation and Vice Governor of Shandong Province said that China and Africa enjoy long time of profound friendship. Entering the new century, China-Africa relationship experienced all-round and fast development to form the new type of strategic partnership, which greatly promoted the exchanges and cooperation in all fields especially the local government. In August, 2012, the first Conference on China-African Local Government Cooperation was held in Beijing, which provided a good platform for the further development of local government cooperation. In the one year time after the conference, both sides held many bilateral and multilateral Governors and Mayors’ Dialogue and business exchanges, which gave good practice to the practical cooperation of China-Africa local governmental cooperation. We sincerely hope this dialogue will contribute more the to China-Africa local governmental cooperation.

During the dialogue, both sides also held the Coordinators’Round Table Meeting of the Local Government Ministers, the Promotion of China’s Provinces and Cities, China-EAC Business Cooperation Forum and the Business Exhibitions. China’s provinces, cities and enterprises also signed 9 MOUs with EAC relevant departments and enterprises.