Hon. Eng Gerald Tayebwa 🇺🇬

A Sino-Ugandan Friendship Forged in 1962, Renewed in New Delhi, India! During the just-concluded 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, I held bilateral talks with H.E. Zheng Jianbang, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress. Uganda and China have been friends since 18 October 1962, and I was pleased to build on these cordial ties. I invited the Chinese delegation to visit Uganda, and Vice Chairperson Zheng kindly accepted and invited me to China in return. China’s Parliament has a unique model that we in Uganda can learn from. This meeting was part of the deliberate parliamentary diplomacy we are pursuing in this term. It supplements the work of our Government and our missions abroad, giving Uganda another channel to build trust, open markets and follow up on agreements. China’s decision to open its market to African products without tariffs gives our farmers and manufacturers an opportunity. I hope to see more Ugandan coffee, fish and processed goods reach Chinese consumers. Exchanges of Members of Parliament and staff can bring our two peoples closer. I thank Vice Chairperson Zheng for a warm and constructive meeting. I was accompanied by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Joel Ssenyonyi, Hon Betty Nakisita Mpongo, Hon Sowedi Ismail Mulemya and Hon Annet Katusiime Mugisha.