Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On the evening of september 26, 2023, a great reception to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was held at the residence of the Chinese Ambassador to Burundi. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO who represented the Government of Burundi participated in the reception as well as other authorities including the Parliamentarians and the Senators, the Heads of diplomatic and the Consular missions, the Representatives international organizations, the members of the Chinese diaspora living in Burundi and the friends of China from all over the world
In her speech, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Burundi Madam Zhao Jiangping declared that during those 74 years under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party has strived to strengthen the nation for recording the new successes in its journey of modernization with the Chinese characteristics and socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. This year, in the face of various complex risks and challenges, China has successfully achieved the stable and rapid economic growth. China is committed for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and providing the new development opportunities to all countries around the world, as China released during the Leaders’ Dialogue China-Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa from august 22 to 24, 2023.
She also noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Burundi and in recent years, under the common concern of all the leaders of these two countries, the bilateral relations have continued to develop, making China and Burundi lifelong friends who shared good times and bad times, and good partners who respected and developed each other.
In his speech during the reception, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO thanked on behalf of the Government of Burundi the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China for the invitation that she extended to him to participate in that great national celebration for the heroic Chinese people.
According to Minister Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, that is a historic moment full of meaning for the Chinese people wherever they are in the world. The Chinese and Burundian people have good reasons to celebrate that anniversary together with joy and jubilation because the Republic of Burundi and the People’s Republic of China have maintained, for 60 years, the excellent bilateral relations, the sincere friendship and a pragmatic cooperation based on shared values of solidarity, fraternity, trust and mutual respect. Those excellent 60-year-old relations have always been strengthened and diversified over time, notably through trade, the construction of state infrastructure, the cooperation in the agricultural, energy, food security, health and education sectors, the close collaboration in the international organizations in the defense of its vital interests as well as high-level visits aimed at further cementing the bonds of friendship and cooperation not only between those two governments, but also between the two peoples.
In terms of political and diplomatic cooperation, Burundi rightly appreciates that permanent contacts are made between the Burundian and Chinese authorities, notably through the exchanges of high-level visits. He mentioned the recent official visit that His Excellency Mr. Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, President of the Republic of Burundi, made to the People’s Republic of China from july 28 to august 1, 2023 without forgetting his participation in the “First High-Level Meeting of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development” in july 2023.
He added that during the bilateral summit meeting on july 28, 2023, between their Excellencies Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, President of the Republic of Burundi, testifies to the quality of excellent historical relations between the friendship and cooperation between those two countries. During that fruitful meeting, the two Heads of State reaffirmed their shared desire to raise the ties of the friendship and cooperation which exist so happily between those two countries to another level, even higher and irreversible in the mutual interest of those two peoples and Burundi will continue to maintain cordial relations with the People’s Republic of China which is a reliable bilateral partner of all times and all trials.
Burundians are confident that the Chinese Government will also continue to support Burundi in achieving its development objectives according to the priority sectors listed in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the new Vision of Burundi “Burundi: an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060”.
Speaking of the aforementioned vision, Burundi is on a good path which will certainly lead it to a successful destination: it welcomes its current momentum for political-security stability and socio-economic development as well as its dearly regained place in the concert of Nations at the regional and international level, where it plays the first plan in the processes of pacification and stabilization of the region and the African continent in general, he said.
The Government of the Republic of Burundi reiterates its deep gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its spirit of solidarity with Burundi, thus the Government of Burundi reiterates its attachment to the policy of one and indivisible China with Taiwan as an integral part as well as its full support for the vital interests and any other issues of a major concern of the People’s Republic of China on the international stage.