CHANGSHA, CHINA – Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Abubakhar Jeje Odongo spoke Wednesday at the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-Up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The meeting is taking place in Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.1
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi opened the meeting, welcoming African ministers and presenting five proposals for promoting China-Africa cooperation.2Â He said China and Africa should support each other, uphold global solidarity, champion international free trade, pursue mutual benefit in global development, defend an equitable international order, and promote diversity of civilizations.
Wang Yi read a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the meeting.3Â In the letter, Xi announced China would implement a zero-tariff policy for 100% of tariff lines for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations. He said China would provide more export facilitation to least developed African countries and work with Africa to further implement the 10 partnership actions.4
In Uganda’s statement, Odongo thanked China for organizing the meeting and highlighted Uganda’s achievements under FOCAC. He cited large-scale infrastructure developments, including the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and the Karuma and Isimba Hydropower Plants. Odongo also noted FOCAC’s support for concessional loans and grants in agriculture and social projects, which he described as key drivers for Uganda’s agro-industrialization and inclusive growth.
Odongo shared Uganda’s 10-fold growth strategy, stating its focus areas include agro-industrialization, tourism, mineral-based development, oil and gas (petrochemical) development, and knowledge economy advancement. He added that key enablers for Uganda’s development agenda include digital infrastructure, industrial park development, information and communications technology, human capital development, critical road infrastructure such as the Kibuye-Busega Highway, irrigation for agriculture, and infrastructure for digitalizing health information.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Odongo met with Chen Xiaodong, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The two discussed the implementation of ongoing programs funded by China under the FOCAC framework and explored new areas for potential Chinese funding to support Uganda’s National Development Plan IV and 10-fold economic growth plan.
At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, China and Africa issued the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, the List of Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Action of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the Concept Paper of 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. These documents aim to implement cooperation outcomes from the FOCAC Beijing Summit and provide new momentum for deepening political trust, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthening people-to-people ties.
