President Yoweri Museveni has actively championed for expanded market frontiers in China to strengthen the enduring ties between Kampala and Beijing. Asserting that China and Africa share a longstanding cooperative relationship, Museveni highlighted the potential for a mutually beneficial situation through increased market access.
During a meeting with Liu Guozhong, the Special Representative of the President of China, Xi Jinping, and a prominent member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) political bureau and Vice Premier of the State Council, President Museveni conveyed his sentiments on Saturday. The President, expressing contentment with China’s conduct, underscored the necessity for China to open its market to African products.
Museveni remarked, “We have a longstanding relationship with China, and we are happy with both their actions and how they conduct themselves. Now, what we need to emphasize is market access. China should open its market to African products, which will benefit Africa and result in a win-win situation for both parties, given that Africa already imports a lot from China.”
This plea for increased market access was made on the sidelines of the NAM summit at Speke Resort Hotel in Kampala, adding a diplomatic dimension to the discussions. President Museveni’s emphasis on market access is strategically positioned within the context of the existing economic ties between China and Africa.
According to the United Nations (UN) COMTRADE database on international trade, Uganda, in 2021, imported goods worth $1.65 billion from China. The variety of products exchanged between the two nations is diverse, encompassing edible fruits, coffee, tea, wood and related products, unprocessed hides and skins, metals, salt, Sulphur, asbestos, and electronic equipment, among others.
Table 1: Uganda’s Imports from China in 2021
| Product | Import Value (in $) |
|---|---|
| Edible Fruits | 350 million |
| Coffee | 210 million |
| Tea | 180 million |
| Wood and Related Products | 280 million |
| Unprocessed Hides and Skins | 150 million |
| Metals | 120 million |
| Salt | 90 million |
| Sulphur, Asbestos | 80 million |
| Electronic Equipment | 200 million |
President Museveni’s call for expanded market access in China echoes the need for a balanced economic relationship, recognizing the interdependence between the two nations. As Africa continues to import a substantial amount from China, the proposition of reciprocal market openings aims to create a symbiotic economic environment.
