June this year marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral trade ties and facilitating smoother customs procedures between Uganda and China.  The first day of June is the date on which China and Uganda officially launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) in Uganda at a ceremony held in the country’s capital Kampala.  The two countries on that day activated the mutual recognition agreement, signed in 2021, to recognise each other’s AEOs. Due to the outbreak of the…

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited China on 17-21 July at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, receiving a warm welcome from the Chinese government and people.  The Chinese people often describe the China-Algeria bond as an enduring friendship deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Whenever the restoration of China’s legitimate seat at the UN in 1971 is mentioned, the Chinese people would be reminded of the friendly name of Algeria, one of the countries that made…

Nathan Bagarukayo, an aeronautical engineering graduate from Beijing’s Beihang University, is grateful for the chance he had to study in China and credits his professional success to the quality of education he received in China.   “I learned so much during my time in China, and the skills and knowledge I acquired have been invaluable in my professional life. I’m proud to be a graduate of a Chinese university,” he told ChinAfrica from his home in Rwanda.   But Bagarukayo is not…

The 2023 China in Dialogue with the World, themed “Xiamen Tour for Global Young Leaders,” took place in Xiamen from 12 to 14 November. Sixteen young leaders from 12 different countries, including the US, France, Italy, Russia, Denmark, South Africa, Egypt and Pakistan, visited Xiamen Special Economic Zone Memorial Hall, Hairun Terminal, Yundang Lake, Gulangyu Island, youth-led businesses, and Lianhua Township. The purpose of the visit was to discover Xiamen’s practices and long-term plans for exploring the way forward under the Global…

Tanzania is an important Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) hub in Africa. It signed a BRI cooperation memorandum with China in 2018. Bilateral exchanges have been on the rise since then.  On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the initiative, ChinAfrica sat down with Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzanian ambassador to China, to hear his insights on the BRI, especially the changes brought by the BRI to the local people’s lives. Edited excerpts of the interview follow:  ChinAfrica: How did…

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt in September 2013 in Kazakhstan, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in the following month in Indonesia, together known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In a decade, the BRI has become a reality, reviving the ancient Silk Roads.   The BRI, based on history and proposed by China, concentrates on the future and benefits the world as a whole. According to Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s…

Abdullahi Okelo in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania tries to fully concentrate as he holds his tool, keen to start his practical work on automobile engine assembly before his tutors’ final assessment. Okelo’s dedication is driven by his deep passion for mechanical engineering and years of struggle to develop his engineering skills in a bid to earn a living.  “I am thrilled to be a student at the Luban Workshop, especially to be taught by the best tutors. This is…

For much of the past 20 years, the Chinese economic engagement with Africa could be summarised in two words: investment and trade. During this period, China’s trade figures with African nations have been remarkable. For instance, in 2022, China-Africa trade surged to a record high of $282 billion, highlighting how China’s business cooperation with the continent of Africa continues to rise.   Statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China show that in the first four months of 2023, rising…

As a child, I was captivated by machines and their inner workings. I yearned to design contraptions that could solve real-world problems and improve people’s lives. So when it came to selecting my major for university education, I knew that mechanical engineering was the right choice.   As for university, I decided to study at Assosa University in Ethiopia, because of the university’s reputation for excellence in mechanical engineering and the vibrant culture of the city it’s located in. For a…

Over the past few years, the development of Rwanda’s infrastructure and economy has greatly benefitted from the significant investment from China, according to insiders. The two countries have strengthened cooperation in various fields, particularly in the area of investment.   “The collaboration in investment has led to numerous benefits for both countries, such as increased economic growth, job opportunities, and improved access to resources and capital,” Emmanuel Bugingo, chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security in the Chamber…