BUJUMBURA, September 23rd (ABP) – The Chinese Embassy to Burundi organized a reception on Friday, September 20, 2024, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.
In her speech, Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping began by pointing out that since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese people have made great achievements, sustained economic development, and long-term social stability.
For her, in the new dynamic of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, China has achieved the goal of eliminating absolute poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. She relied on figures: in the first half of 2024, China’s GDP increased by 5%; imports and exports of goods increased by 6.1%.
Regarding China-Africa cooperation, Zhao noted that since its founding, New China and Africa have firmly supported each other in the struggle for national liberation and have forged an indissoluble friendship.
The Chinese ambassador to Burundi announced a new impetus for this cooperation which was decided in early September 2024 at the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. She noted that the Chinese and African sides adopted the Beijing Declaration and the action plan to strengthen cooperation for the next 3 years (2025-2027).
“President Xi Jinping proposed that China and Africa work together to promote modernization with 6 proposals within 3 years. China will undertake in Africa to implement 10 partnership actions on modernization in order to deepen South-South cooperation,” she echoed Chinese President Xi Jinping
Regarding cooperation, Zhao indicated that the latter continues to develop thanks to the joint efforts of the two parties. This is evident in the collaboration in various fields: agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, to name a few. She noted that China is willing, with international partners, to support Burundi on the path to modernization while providing the local population with visible and tangible results, through flagship projects in various fields.
Taking the floor on behalf of the government of Burundi, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Ferdinand Bashikako, admitted that as it blows out its 75th candle, China has reached maturity in several areas. “Yesterday at the mercy of foreign countries and wiping outrage and insult, it is still standing and more committed than ever to fighting poverty and all forms of domination,” he insisted. He thus congratulated the Chinese Communist Party “which was able to unite the Chinese people and which guided them towards the accomplishment of the great feat,” that is, the cultural and industrial revolution, and socialist construction on the Chinese model by working hard and counting on its own strengths.
In his vision of Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060, President Ndayishimiye, “invites all Burundians to follow in the footsteps of the Chinese people to work together to achieve sustainable development”, he noted.
He also mentioned that the people of Burundi are reassured by the determination of the Burundian and Chinese heads of state, committed to the elevation to a higher level of relations between the two nations, an elevation materialized by the signing, in September 2024, during the meeting in Beijing between the two heads of state, on the sidelines of the FOCAC, of the cooperation plan between China and Burundi, the signing of various memoranda of understanding and protocols of agreements between the two governments.
Bashikako made a special point of expressing the gratitude of the government of Burundi for the multiple and multifaceted support of the Chinese government that affects all areas of national life, particularly agriculture, education, health, energy, infrastructure, security, humanitarian aid, capacity building of civil servants, cultural exchanges, political and diplomatic support.
It is worthy to note that distinguished guests participated in that reception, namely the Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD, members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to Burundi, senior government officials, parliamentarians and representatives of international NGOs.