Sino-Burundian pragmatic cooperation on the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Burundi’s National Development Vision 2040-2060 – 2024-08-28 03:06:18 – 2024-08-28 03:06:20 – 2024-08-28 03:08:06 – 2024-08-28 03:09:10

Burundi is an active participant and beneficiary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the Implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Bilateral cooperation between China and Burundi, covering various fields, has achieved fruitful results within the framework of the forum. China is committed to closely aligning bilateral cooperation projects with Burundi’s 2040-2060 vision to better support Burundi in achieving national development, with a focus on growth-oriented sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure., public health and capacity building.

Bilateral cooperation has given priority to Burundian agriculture. China has actively shared its development experience, sending six high-level agricultural expert missions since 2009, actively introducing Chinese technology and experience to Burundi. Decisive achievements have been achieved in rice cultivation, and the high-quality seed project is underway. In June 2020, the agricultural pilot center built with Chinese assistance was completed in Bubanza province, an important manifestation of the implementation of the outcomes of the 2018 Forum Summit, and a boost to the realization of President Ndayishimiye’s national goal of “for every mouth to have something to eat”. After moving to this center, the Chinese experts have been committed to solving major technical problems in agricultural production. The Burundian side highly appreciates the work of Chinese experts who have high professional quality, pragmatic, cooperative and efficient spirit. Sino-Burundian agricultural cooperation has made important contributions to achieving food security and reducing poverty among rural people.

In 2016, the hybrid rice trial planting was successful; in 2018, a productive hybrid rice demonstration village was established in Linge 4 village, Gihanga commune, Bubanza province, Burundi. At present, 56 rice demonstration villages have been established throughout the country, and the Burundian people have witnessed the significant increase in yields and planting efficiency of the demonstration villages, and the production and living standards of the people in the project areas have been greatly improved, with the appearance of the villages greatly improved.

In order to solve the problem of seeds selected for major crops in Burundi, the expert group, after years of research, has successfully solved the technical difficulties in producing localized hybrid rice and corn seeds, and it is believed that the seed base project will be implemented as soon as possible, and the supply of high-tech seeds will be realized very soon.

The energy sector is a field with great development potential in Burundi. China has always supported this sector for a long time and built the Mugere hydropower plant in 1982. Since August 2011, China has sent 5 technical assistance teams for the 3 hydropower plants (Mugere, Ruvyironza and Gikonge) to Burundi to provide technical guidance on the operation and maintenance of equipment and train Burundian technicians. Chinese experts have effectively guaranteed the operation of these three plants. The Ruzibazi hydropower plant construction project is the largest project provided by China in Burundi. This hydropower plant was inaugurated in September 2022 and has generated 200 million Kwh of electricity with a value of 22 million dollars until the end of last July. The Chinese construction company of the project has overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 and effectively guaranteed the progress of the construction. While ensuring the construction, it actively assumed its social responsibilities by voluntarily committing itself to building a primary school and water basins for neighboring villages, installing solar street lights and setting up convenient water points near the plant.

In the field of infrastructure, the two countries have maintained a tradition of close cooperation and completed many construction projects including the presidential palace. The runway rehabilitation project and the construction of the control tower of Bujumbura airport will be launched soon. In the field of radio and television, China has successfully implemented the “10,000 African Villages Satellite TV Access Project” in 500 villages in Burundi. China has also completed the project of migrating to digital television broadcasting in Burundi. The 190,000 sets of digital decoders that China provided to Burundi as a donation have greatly supported the modernization of television equipment.

Cooperation in the field of public health has achieved many achievements. For 37 consecutive years since 1987, China’s Qinghai Province has sent 23 rounds of medical missions with a total of 515 personnel, working in 3 hospitals across the country, providing free medical care to the local people, and training local medical personnel. The Chinese side not only built the Mpanda General Hospital in 2011, but also dispatched experts to provide technical assistance over the years to effectively ensure the normal operation of the hospital. China and Burundi have signed the agreement on implementing the cooperation mechanism between twin hospitals to strengthen cooperation in various forms and have already launched the activities.

In the field of capacity building, the two countries have been cooperating for a long time and at a high level. China is training more young leaders in various fields as well as highly qualified and professionally competent people. China is becoming an important host country for Burundian students abroad. Every year, the Chinese government organizes various seminars in China to train Burundian personnel according to the needs of the Burundian side. This year, until the end of June, nearly two hundred Burundians have gone to China to attend the 30 seminars.

At the last meeting in China between the heads of state of our two countries on June 28, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that in recent years, China-Burundian relations have maintained a high level and cooperation in various fields has achieved remarkable results, becoming a model of South-South cooperation. Burundian President NDAYISHIMIYE stressed that cooperation between Burundi and China has brought tangible benefits to the Burundian people.

In 2024, we will host the next FOCAC Summit 2024 in China, which will be another opportunity for China and Africa to come together and look forward to future development. We all have high expectations for this important meeting. We believe that China and Africa will further carry forward their traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and cooperation, and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields. The joint commitment of China and Africa to promote modernization will surely create a brighter future for the Chinese and African people and set an example in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

By ZHAO Jiangping, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Burundi