China, Uganda to expand cooperation

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 3, 2006. Yoweri Museveni is in Beijing for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is scheduled for Nov. 4-5.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Uganda have agreed to strengthen cooperation in fields of agriculture, textile, infrastructure construction, medical care, culture and education, said President Hu Jintao here on Friday.

During a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who arrived Thursday for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for Nov. 4-5, Hu said bilateral ties will be consolidated through strengthening friendly exchanges and exploring cooperation potential.

Hu said China and Uganda share mutual trust and close cooperation, vowing China is willing to push forward mutual friendship to a new level.

Museveni said China had granted important support when Uganda strove for national independence, and offered assistance in Uganda's economic development.

In recent years, China has further opened market to Uganda, which enjoys zero-tariff and quota-free treatment in export of 190commodities to China, Museveni said.

He said Uganda hopes to expand cooperation with China in fields of railway, energy, processing of agricultural produce and tourism.

China and Uganda forged diplomatic ties on Oct. 18, 1962. Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao visited Uganda in 2001 and 2006, respectively. Museveni visited China in 2004. Bilateral trade reached 99.37 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

On Friday morning alone, Hu rolled out red carpet at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing to welcome presidents of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Ghana. He is scheduled to meet with another five African presidents later Friday.