On March 23 and 25, 2026, Mr. Fan Xuecheng, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, published a signed article entitled "Sharing Development Dividends: New Impetus for Global Peace and China-Uganda Cooperation" in Uganda's mainstream newspapers, Daily Monitor and New Vision. The full text is as follows:

Recently, China successfully convened the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the Third Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing. The “Two Sessions” provide an important window for the international community to observe China’s development and understand its policy direction. The meetings sent clear and positive signals of China’s commitment to high-quality development, high-level opening-up, and peaceful development, bringing new opportunities for China–Uganda cooperation.

China’s Economy: Strong Resilience and Bright Prospects

Despite a complex and challenging international environment, China’s economy has maintained overall stability with steady progress. In 2025, China’s GDP reached 140.19 trillion yuan, representing a growth rate of 5 percent. China remains the world’s second-largest economy and continues to contribute more than 30 percent of global economic growth.

Looking ahead, China has set an expected economic growth target of around 4.5 to 5 percent for 2026. With a population of over 1.4 billion and a middle-income group exceeding 500 million, China has formed a super-large market with strong growth potential. In 2025, total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan, making China one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

China remains committed to a people-centered development philosophy and continues to improve people’s livelihoods. Over the past year, more than 12 million new urban jobs were created. The social security system has been steadily improved, with basic pension insurance covering over 1.06 billion people and basic medical insurance covering more than 1.3 billion people.

China will continue to expand domestic demand, accelerate industrial upgrading, and foster new quality productive forces, injecting sustained momentum into economic growth and creating more opportunities for countries around the world.

The 15th Five-Year Plan: Advancing Chinese Modernization

The Two Sessions also made important arrangements for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which will be a crucial period for advancing Chinese modernization and promoting high-quality development.

China will continue to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and high-end manufacturing. At the same time, China will actively promote green and low-carbon development, accelerate energy transition, and promote harmony between humanity and nature.

China has made significant progress in these areas. It has built the world’s largest renewable energy system and remains the largest photovoltaic manufacturing country globally. By 2025, the installed capacity of wind and solar power exceeded 1.8 billion kilowatts, accounting for more than 40 percent of the global total. China is also the world’s largest market for new energy vehicles, with annual sales reaching about 9.5–10 million units.

These achievements reflect the strong momentum of China’s high-quality development. In 2025, China’s total imports and exports of goods reached 45.47 trillion yuan, a record high. Over the next decade, China is expected to import more than 20 trillion US dollars’ worth of goods and services, providing broad market opportunities for all countries.

China will continue to advance high-level opening-up and share development opportunities with the world, especially with developing countries.

China’s Foreign Policy: Peaceful Development and Responsibility of a Major Country

China remains committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and to the path of peaceful development. China is committed to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and to advancing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative.

China firmly supports multilateralism, upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core, and promotes greater democracy in international relations. China opposes unilateralism and protectionism and advocates resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation.

In response to the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, China has expressed grave concern and opposes acts that violate international law and infringe upon the sovereignty and security of other countries. China holds that the use of force cannot solve problems and calls on relevant parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has maintained communication with relevant parties and called for resolving differences through dialogue and consultation. China has dispatched its Special Envoy on the Middle East issue, Zhai Jun, to the region to carry out shuttle diplomacy, with a view to de-escalating the situation and building consensus for peace.

China–Uganda Cooperation: Sustained and Fruitful Results

China is a natural member of the Global South and always stands with other developing countries. China is a sincere friend and reliable partner of Africa, and has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. In this context, starting from May 1, China will implement zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for products from 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China, which will help African countries expand exports and promote development.

China–Uganda relations have maintained sound and steady development, with practical cooperation yielding fruitful results. In 2025, bilateral trade reached 2.1 billion US dollars, representing a 43.5 percent year-on-year increase and setting a new record. China’s imports from Uganda grew significantly, with coffee exports reaching 62 million US dollars, nearly doubling year-on-year.

Agricultural cooperation has continued to expand. In January 2026, Uganda’s dried chili products were successfully exported to China for the first time. Ugandan enterprises have actively participated in the China International Import Expo, enhancing the visibility of Ugandan products and creating new opportunities for cooperation.

Leveraging the 100 percent zero-tariff treatment, our two sides are working closely to facilitate the export of more high-quality Ugandan agricultural products to the vast Chinese market. While sorghum, chia seeds, and avocados are gaining momentum, other specialty products such as pineapples, mangoes, and bananas are also under active consideration for market access. This burgeoning trade in 'green' products is set to become a new engine for Uganda’s rural revitalization.

The year 2026 marks the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges." On February 8, the "China-Uganda Year of People-to-People Exchanges" was officially launched in the presence of H.E. Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda. China will work with Uganda to host a series of diverse and meaningful exchange activities this year, further strengthening personnel exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding, and ensuring that the traditional China-Uganda friendship shines with new brilliance through practical cooperation and mutual learning among civilizations.

A Shared Future of Development and Revitalization

China’s development can not be separated from the world, and the world’s development also needs China. China will continue to expand high-level opening-up and provide more opportunities for global partners. The four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping provide China’s wisdom and solutions to addressing the challenges facing the world today.

Uganda stands to benefit from China’s continued development and opening-up. The two countries enjoy broad prospects for cooperation in areas such as agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure, digital technology, and green development.

Under a new development initiative, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has committed roughly RMB 80 million toward the structural enhancement and modernization of the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital. This cooperation project encompasses the refurbishment and procurement of advanced medical apparatus. Both parties are in active consultations regarding the Exchange of Notes, the imminent signing of which will mark the official commencement of the project's execution. A new bilateral cooperation agreement will facilitate a RMB 25 million technical intervention to bolster Uganda’s bamboo sector over the next three years. This project, funded by the Government of China, involves the deployment of specialists in silviculture and industrial processing to provide technical leadership and capacity building for the local workforce. By integrating advanced Chinese expertise, the project aims to elevate the entire bamboo value chain. The inaugural expert mission is slated for deployment on March 30.

China stands ready to work with Uganda to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, share development opportunities, and promote common development and prosperity. The Embassy of China in Uganda, while seizing the opportunity of the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges to foster closer bonds, will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with Ugandan media and all sectors of society to further enhance mutual understanding and advance China–Uganda friendship.