Your Excellency, Janet Museveni, the First Lady & the Minister of Education and Sport of Uganda,
Mrs. Olive Lumonya, the Chairperson of National Executive Committee
Representatives of UWESO (Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans),
His Worship Salongo Nyombi, LC1 Masulita Kyalo,
Leaders of Wakiso District,
Distinguished guests, friends from the media and think tank,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All protocols observed.
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to join you here today atthe Handover Ceremony of “Warm Children’s Hearts—A China-Africa Joint Action”. We are so much privileged to have Her Excellency Janet Museveni as our Guest of Honor to grace this event. My thanks also goes to First Lady office, Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO) and other public sectors of Uganda for their efforts and support in making this event possible.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, and in my own name, I would like to extend our warm greetings to all children here and thanks to UWESO for your contribution to the cause of children's relief.
Your ExcellencyJanet Museveni, distinguished guests,ladies and gentlemen,
China and Uganda share a special friendship of "comrades and brothers". Over the past six decades, the two countries have supported each other and worked side by side. Under the leadership of H.E. President Xi Jinping and H.E. President Museveni, China and Uganda bilateral relations are at their best in history. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who have worked hard to the good relations between the two countries.
China is a forever friend and faithful partner of Africa. H.E. Prof. Peng Liyuan, First Lady as wife of H.E.Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, cherishes the sincere friendship that she shares with the First Ladies of African countries, has long been keen on the health care cause of Africa and highly appreciates Uganda's efforts in promoting the development of the cause of women and children in the country.
In 2020, in the special period of fighting against COVID-19, initiated by H.E. Prof. Peng Liyuan, batches of anti-pandemic medical supplies were donated in the name of Chinese Government to women, children and the youth in Africa through the Organization of African First Ladies for Development(OAFLAD), by which China and Africa have jointly demonstrated our sincere friendship of shared destiny and mutual support in needy time.
Your ExcellencyJanet Museveni, distinguished guests,ladies and gentlemen,
As we known that, UWESO, founded by H.E. Janet Museveni, First Lady of Uganda in 1986, has a mission to help vulnerable children, including those orphaned by AIDS, and has helped more than 1.2 million children in Uganda to date. The Embassy has also been in good contact with UWESO and has provided assistance on many occasions. Today we are delighted to be able to host “Warm Children’s Hearts-A China-Africa Joint Action” event at the Masulita children's home initiated by Professor Peng and the First Ladies' Development Association of Africa, which aims to care about the health of orphans and help African children grow up healthy and happy.The medical team had already donecheckups for most of children in the morning and gave professional advice. The “packages of care” we provide including health care items, stationary and toys. The Embassy hopes that this activity will convey warmth and care, and help the orphans to live a positive and happy life.
Distinguished guests, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen,
Education, sports and health care sectorsare important parts of the cooperation between China and Uganda. China has supported the development of education and sports in Uganda for many years and carried out a series of projects since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962.
In the field of education, the Confucius Institute at Makerere University was officially inaugurated in 2014. Established with support from the Chinese government and Xiangtan University, the non-profit public institution offers credit courses in Chinese to Makerere University students, and short courses to staff and the general public interested in learning Chinese for all purposes. Since 2018, we had trained about 150local Chinese teachers in Uganda. These activities not only strengthen the cooperation between the two sides in the field of education and promote cultural exchange, but also provide opportunities for Ugandan students to participate in the practical cooperation between China and Uganda.
Since 2016, over 6,000 Ugandans have attended China-aided short-term training courses and seminars, covering fields such as agriculture, medical care, public administration, computer science and infrastructure. Chinese government has sponsored hundreds of Ugandan students to study in China for diplomas through Chinese government scholarships and other scholarship programs over the last few years. In 2020, the China-Aided Industrial Skills Training and Production Centre with a $30m grant was founded in Namanve Industrial Park. It introduces modern manufacturing methods and practices in Uganda for youth skills development. In December, 2020, the Luban Workshop set up by Tianjin Institute of Technology at Uganda Institute of Technology in Elgon was officially launched, which has become a new platform for Ugandan youth to acquire technical skills training and work opportunities. China will work more closely with Uganda in the fields of vocation education and human development so as to cultivate more talents for Uganda.
China encouraged Chinese enterprises to fufill their social responsibility in the field of education. For example, the DIGITruck Project organised by Huawei, which was launched by H.E. President Museveni, has recently trained 500 local youths for ICT skill in seven areas in Busoga District of Uganda and aims to train a total of 30,000 people nationwide in the next three years.
In the field of sports, China has also carried out diversified cooperation with Uganda. In 1993, the Mandela Stadium was built with a grant of $36 million dollars from China.Now, the Chinese technical team will arrive in Uganda next month to conduct the upgrade work. Second, we actively supports the development of Uganda's woodball sports. Thirdly, the 31st World University Gamesis going to be held in Chengdu, China next month. We are glad to see that more than 60 Ugandan athletes will go to China. May they achieve great success!
In the health sector, the year 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of China’s dispatching of the medical team to Africa and the 40th anniversary of China’s dispatching of the medical team to Uganda. China supported the establishment of the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital 209 medical experts have been sent to Uganda in 22 batches and provided free service to millions of Ugandans.We are currently discussing the hospital upgrading project with the Ministry of Health to support Uganda’s effort totransform it into national trauma centre to better serve the local communities.
Your ExcellencyJanet Museveni, distinguished guests,ladies and gentlemen,
The year 2023marks the 10th anniversary of BRI, Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the economic cooperation between China and Uganda has withstood the test of uncertain factors against the backdrop of pandemic era and showed a good momentum of steady progress. 2023 isalso a crucial year for the start of the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country after the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held in Beijing last October.China wishes to continuously work hand in hand with Uganda, to explore innovative modernization paths suitable for both sides. China will continue to support the economic and social development of the country and cooperation in education, sports and other fields, providing new impetus to practical cooperation between our two sides and make new contributions to jointly build the China-Ugandan Community of Shared Future in the New Era!
Long-standing friendship between the peoples of China and Uganda.
I thank you all!