Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on Tuesday with visiting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two agreed to upgrade their countries' relationship to a comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Xi noted that the relationship between China and Uganda is at the best of times. China will continue to work with Uganda to jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the outcome of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit held in September 2018.

Xi stressed that China firmly supports Uganda exploring a development path with Ugandan characteristics suitable to its national conditions.

He said that China is willing to exchange insights on politics and governance experiences with Uganda through enhanced communication.

Xi added that China and Uganda should carry out the eight major initiatives established during the FOCAC Beijing Summit, strengthening cooperation in infrastructure, trade, energy, agriculture, epidemic control, human resources, industrial parks, tourism and many other fields.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, September 6, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Xi also called for concerted efforts to fight protectionism and unilateralism, uphold the UN-centered international order and system and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Museveni said that China has developed a long-standing friendship with Africa and has made important contributions to the national liberation and reconstruction of African countries.

He said that Uganda hopes to bring Uganda-China cooperation to a new level by upgrading bilateral ties to a comprehensive cooperative partnership.

He added that unilateralism is harmful and that the two countries should enhance communication and coordination for mutual assistance in multilateral institutions such as the UN.

This was President Museveni's seventh visit to China since his first visit thirty years ago. He also visited China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held in March 2015 and the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018.