“I am sending young people… I want them to be involved, because I know everything," Museveni explained.
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni opted not to attend this week's China-Africa Summit held in Beijing, delegating Vice President Jessica Alupo to represent him. In response to a query from a Chinese media outlet, Museveni explained his decision, citing the importance of involving younger leaders in international engagements.
A record 53 African countries are represented at the China-Africa Summit in Beijing
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"There is nothing I don’t know about China. I want our young people to link up with the young people in China."
The China-Africa Summit, part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), saw over 20 African heads of state in attendance, with 53 African countries represented.
Vice President Jessica Alupo poses with President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan. She represented President Museveni at the summit
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Notable attendees included the presidents of Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, among others.
The forum highlighted China’s growing influence on the African continent, with Chinese President Xi Jinping announcing billions of dollars in loans and investments aimed at supporting African development over the next three years.
President Xi commits
In his address to the summit, Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of elevating relations with African nations to the "strategic" level, pledging support for various sectors, including agriculture, energy, education, and military assistance.
He underscored China's commitment to working alongside Africa to address shared challenges and promote modernization efforts, while critiquing the Western approach to development.
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Over two dozen heads of state graced the China-Africa Summit
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For Uganda, Museveni’s expressed hope that this engagement would enhance collaboration between the youth of Uganda and China, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.
The summit comes at a critical time for China-Africa relations, with African leaders pushing for a closer alignment of aid and investment with their development goals, particularly in the areas of industrialization and trade balance. Xi’s pledge to eliminate tariffs on products from 33 African nations, among other initiatives, was welcomed by African leaders, who see China as a key partner in their efforts to diversify and grow their economies.
The China-Africa partnership is expected to continue playing a significant role in shaping the economic and political landscape of the continent for years to come.
