CRI听力:China, Uganda bring ties to higher level

China and Uganda have agreed to bring their official diplomatic relationship to a higher level.

This follows a face-to-face meeting between the Presidents of the two countries in Beijing on Tuesday.

As part of their latest sit-down together, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni have agreed to increase their country's diplomatic relationship to one of a "comprehensive cooperative partnership."

Speaking alongside Museveni following their 7th face-to-face meeting as leaders, Xi Jinping says the creation of higher diplomatic recognition between China and Uganda is based on years of growing trust.

"I'm glad to see that the political mutual trust has been continuously enhanced, pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and the two sides maintain close collaboration in international and regional affairs. China and Uganda are among the countries spearheading the Sino-African cooperation and have set an example of equality, mutual benefit, unity, cooperation and common development between two countries. China is willing to work with Uganda to promote the ties in the process of the joint building of the Belt and Road and the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit."

The Chinese President says the new diplomatic relationship should help open up more inter-governmental exchanges.

Xi Jinping also says the new diplomatic recognition should also make it easier to strike deals in areas such as infrastructure construction, trade, energy, agriculture and tourism.

He has also expressed Chinese support for Uganda in maintaining regional peace and stability, and in safeguarding its own security.

The two leaders also agreed to work together to oppose protectionism and unilateralism, while upholding the international system and international order.

Museveni is on a four day working visit to China.

He will wind-up his tour on Thursday by attending the first-ever China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which will open tomorrow in Hunan's capital, Changsha.

The expo is one of eight major initiatives put forward at last year's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in Beijing.