The Ugandan capital Kampala hosted the 19th summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), January 19-20. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Liu Guozhong attended and delivered a speech, highlighting the movement’s important role in promoting the cause of world peace and human progress and noting its birth, “at the climax of the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.” Liu is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a Vice Premier of the State Council.
The NAM should continue to uphold independence and oppose power politics, seek common ground while shelving differences, promote peaceful coexistence, seek strength through unity, strive for common development, and advocate equality, fairness and justice, Liu added.
The NAM Summit was followed on January 21 with the third South Summit, the highest decision-making body of the Group of 77 (G77), which now groups 135 developing countries.
Speaking there, Liu said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Group of 77, and over the past six decades, the Global South has followed the right path of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, solidarity, and mutual assistance.
Independence is the defining political feature of the Global South, seeking strength through unity is the glorious tradition of the Global South, development and revitalisation are the historical mission of the Global South, and fairness and justice are the common propositions of the Global South, he noted.
As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China has always shared a common destiny with other developing countries and will continue to take South-South cooperation as a priority in its foreign cooperation and contribute to the common development of developing countries in the Global South.
On January 21, Liu had a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has also assumed the rotating chair of the NAM and G77.
Museveni asked Liu to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi. He welcomed the vice premier and his delegation to attend the two summits and thanked China for its significant contribution to the success of the meetings.
From joining hands to oppose colonialism and hegemonism and strive for national liberation, to strengthening unity and cooperation and jointly promoting development and revitalisation, the destiny of the African and Chinese people has always been closely linked, Museveni stressed.
The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post further reported Museveni as telling Liu: “We have been together in the anti-colonial struggle. China supported us when we were fighting for independence. It also supported the freedom fighting groups in Southern Africa – Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Since then, China has grown economically [and] has helped Africa even more. We are therefore very happy with China.”
Liu responded that China was still a very poor country in 1949 when the People’s Republic was founded, “but the Chinese leaders made a very important decision” to develop relations with Africa through “supporting African people in fighting for national independence, liberation and their efforts to fight imperialism.”
In a meeting with another high-level Chinese delegation last November, the Ugandan presidential website quoted Museveni as saying that: “Ever since 1949, when the Communist Party took power in China, China has been on the side of Africa. At that time, Chinese leaders like Mao Zedong supported our struggle against colonialism. Then, after independence, even when China was not so prosperous, they extended support to Africa. I remember China building the Tanzania-Zambia railway after independence, and that was to help landlocked Zambia against the white supremacists in Southern Africa.”
Prior to visiting Uganda, Liu had visited Algeria and Cameroon.
The Kampala NAM Summit saw the admission to full membership of South Sudan, the first expansion in 13 years, meaning that the body now has 121 member states – 54 from Africa, 26 from the Americas, 36 from Asia, 3 from Oceania and 2 from Europe. In addition, there are 19 observer countries, including China, and 11 observer organisations, including liberation movements from the US colony Puerto Rico and Kanaky, the French colony known as New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.
China hails Non-Aligned Movement’s endeavors in advancing global peace
KAMPALA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Liu Guozhong attended the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit on Friday and Saturday in the Ugandan capital Kampala and delivered a speech, highlighting the movement’s important role in promoting the cause of world peace and human progress.
The NAM, born at the climax of the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America, has effectively advanced the cause of world peace and human progress, said Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council.
It should continue to uphold independence and oppose power politics, seek common ground while shelving differences, promote peaceful coexistence, seek strength through unity, strive for common development, and advocate equality, fairness and justice, Liu said.
Liu stressed that China will always be a member of the developing world and is willing to work with the NAM countries to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative under the guidance of building a global community of shared future.
China is ready to advance Belt and Road cooperation, practice the common values of humanity, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, to promote the world toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress, Liu said.
Heads of state and government and high-level representatives from more than 100 countries, and heads of international organizations attended the summit. Ugandan President and the chair of the NAM Yoweri Museveni, heads of state of South Africa, Sri Lanka and other countries, the president of the UN General Assembly, and the UN secretary-general delivered speeches, expressing their views on the current international situation and strengthening the role of the NAM. Liu’s speech was positively recognized and widely appreciated by representatives of other countries.
On Saturday, Liu was invited to attend a seminar of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation on development held by President Museveni and delivered a speech.
China calls for more efforts in advancing South-South cooperation
KAMPALA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Liu Guozhong attended the 3rd South Summit held Sunday in the Ugandan capital of Kampala and delivered a speech, calling for the advancement of South-South cooperation and reform of the global governance system.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Group of 77, and over the past six decades, the Global South has followed the right path of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, solidarity and mutual assistance, said Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council.
Independence is the defining political feature of the Global South, seeking strength through unity is the glorious tradition of the Global South, development and revitalization are the historical mission of the Global South, and fairness and justice are the common propositions of the Global South, Liu noted.
Transformations of the world unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, and the Global South is faced with a complex external environment, he said, calling for more efforts in exploring a path to modernization, promoting South-South cooperation at a higher level, actively participating in the reform of the global governance system, and deepening a global partnership for development that is united, equal, balanced and beneficial to all.
Liu said that the Chinese president has put forward the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and advocates the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, aiming to mobilize global resources, promote the common development of human society, long-term stability and mutual learning among civilizations, and push the world toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.
As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China has always shared a common destiny with other developing countries, and will continue to take South-South cooperation as a priority in its foreign cooperation and contribute to the common development of developing countries in the Global South, Liu said.
The South Summit is the supreme decision-making body of the Group of 77. High-level representatives of nearly 100 countries and heads of United Nations agencies attended the meeting.
China, Uganda pledge to expand pragmatic cooperation
KAMPALA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative Liu Guozhong who attended the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and the 3rd South Summit in Kampala, the Ugandan capital. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations.
Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, conveyed President Xi’s cordial greetings to President Museveni and congratulated Uganda on successfully hosting the two summits.
He expressed appreciation for Uganda’s contribution to consolidating the unity and cooperation of the Global South and spoke highly of Uganda’s achievements in economic and social development.
China attaches great importance to developing relations with Uganda and is willing to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, Liu said. He called on both sides to firmly support each other, tap the potential of practical cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Museveni asked Liu to convey sincere greetings to President Xi. He welcomed the vice premier and the Chinese government delegation to attend the two summits and thanked China for its significant contribution to the success of the meetings.
From joining hands to oppose colonialism and hegemonism and strive for national liberation, to strengthening unity and cooperation and jointly promoting development and revitalization, the destiny of the African and Chinese people has always been closely linked, Museveni said.
Uganda is willing to work with China to carry forward their traditional friendship, firmly support each other’s core interests, expand pragmatic cooperation and enhance the well-being of the two peoples, he pledged, expressing his wishes for even greater achievements in China’s development.
