Africa-Press – Uganda. An initiative of the People’s Republic of China, the conference brings together representatives from eight Horn of Africa countries—Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
also in attendance are high-level delegations from international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
State Minister for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), John Mulimba, officially opened the conference.
In his remarks, he praised China’s ongoing efforts to promote stability and economic development in Africa through its Global Security Initiative.
“We welcome China’s approach which emphasizes dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and comprehensive strategies for sustainable peace,” Mulimba stated.
Representing the Chinese government, Mr Xue Bing, China’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs, reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to supporting peacebuilding and regional development.
He outlined three pillars guiding China’s engagement in the Horn of Africa: promoting dialogue for peace, fostering economic cooperation for shared prosperity, and exchanging governance experiences to uphold justice and fairness.
“China will continue to deepen partnerships in areas such as counter-terrorism, trade, landmine eradication, and military personnel training. This is not just about security—it’s about building a foundation for long-term development,” Xue said.
A key highlight of the conference is China’s proposed Agreement on China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, which is expected to enhance trade, infrastructure development, and job creation across Africa.
China also plans to expand zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines from 53 African countries and to encourage greater investment by Chinese enterprises in the region.
The three-day conference will also assess progress under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and deliberate on thematic areas including regional connectivity, industrial development, climate resilience, food security, and multilateral cooperation.
Delegates expressed optimism that the dialogue will produce practical strategies to address persistent challenges in the region—such as insecurity, poverty, and youth unemployment—by reinforcing partnerships between Africa and China.
“The Horn of Africa cannot afford to be defined by conflict any longer. It must be defined by collaboration, economic transformation, and peace,” one delegate remarked.
The Kampala conference follows previous sessions held in Ethiopia and Kenya, and reflects growing momentum for regional dialogue that places African ownership and partnership at the centre of peace and development efforts.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
