Vice Minister Niu Dun met with Hon. Tress Buchanayandi, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) of Uganda in Beijing on June 16, 2014. The two sides exchanged views on the China-Uganda project under FAO's South-South Cooperation (SSC) Program framework, and discussed major issues of bilateral agricultural collaboration.
Niu noted that the Chinese people cherish the traditional friendship with Uganda, and the two ministries have maintained close cooperation for a long time. For example, the Chinese agri-technology demonstration center in Uganda is considered to play an active role in facilitating local agricultural production, and over 200 Ugandan experts, technical staff and management personnel have received trainings in China.
Niu pointed out that since the China-Uganda SSC project was launched in October 2012, the Chinese side has provided technological assistance to Uganda in food production, horticulture, animal farming, aquaculture, and so on. It is glad to see that the project has yielded fruitful results and is highly appreciated by the Ugandan government, the people and the international community. Niu also expressed that China is looking forward to expanding pragmatic cooperation with Uganda and seeking more innovative cooperation forms, to make the China-Uganda project a model of the SSC Program.
Minister Tress Buchanayandi spoke highly of the China-Uganda ties, and extended gratitude to China for its great contribution to Uganda's agricultural progress and food security. Uganda is keen to work with China and deepen agricultural exchange and cooperation in an all-round way.
At the meeting, the Ugandan side put forward a formal proposal of carrying out the Phase II of China-Uganda SSC Project.