Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Wednesday December 13, 2023, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Ferdinand BASHIKAKO, received in audience the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Burundi, Madam Zhao Jiangping.
Madam Zhao Jiangping presented two main points on which their exchanges will focus:
-Announcing a Chinese delegation which will arrive in Bujumbura next week;
– Asking about the Burundi’s position in relation to the Summit which will be held for the Heads of State and Foreign Ministers of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) the member countries on the South China Sea.
For the Chinese delegation which will arrive in Bujumbura next week, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Burundi announced that activity in order to make the Burundian side be ready to welcome that them. The said delegation will focus on the field of agricultural development with emphasis on seed selection. On that point, the Chinese side hopes for better performance to the Burundian side.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ferdinand BASHIKAKO, thanked Madam Zhao Jiangping for the visit and the bilateral cooperation that exists between the two countries.
Concerning the Chinese delegation which will arrive in Bujumbura next week, Mr. Ferdinand BASHIKAKO reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation is complaining about that good news because that delegation will come with a very important subject which will give a great contribution in the agricultural field.
For the point of Burundi’s position for China in relation to the South China Sea dispute, the Permanent Secretary responded that Burundi will not change its position of supporting the Chinese Government, given that China is ready and favorable to the dialogues with the members of different countries which sustain the maintaining peace and security.
At those two main points, the two parties added to the list other points concerning the railway project, the deviation of the National Road No. 1 (RN1) and the project of the rehabilitation of the International Airport Melchior NDADAYE from Bujumbura.
Regarding the railway project which will develop Burundi’s economy and facilitate the connectivity between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madam Zhao Jiangping congratulated Burundi for the step employed.
Regarding the diversion of National Road No. 1 (RN1), Madam Zhao Jiangping said that the Chinese side will come very soon to discuss with the Burundian side on the progress of the activities.
For the project of rehabilitating the Melchior NDADAYE International Airport, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Burundi, Madam Zhao Jiangping, responded that the work will begin during the dry season, in July 2024. The company concerned by that project is currently being prepared. Madam Zhao Jiangping pointed out that the work will always be done in the evening in order not to disrupt the flights during the day, and she said that it would be desirable to suspend the night flights. She also indicated that the rehabilitation work will only concern the runways and the control tower of the said Airport.
The two authorities ended their exchanges by agreeing to the further strengthening friendly relations and reinforcing the bilateral cooperation for the well-being of the two respective peoples.