BUJUMBURA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese development path of relying on its own strengths should inspire other countries, especially developing countries, Burundian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation Edouard Bizimana has said.
Bizimana made the remarks on Wednesday evening during the celebration of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The event brought together members of the Chinese community living in Burundi, Burundian officials, and diplomats accredited to Burundi.
"The Chinese development style is a model of relying on its own strengths and should inspire other countries, especially developing nations, including Burundi," he said. "The Chinese vision has already inspired the Burundian president and the Burundian people, fostering a more determined commitment to this conviction: united and working together, we can develop our country."
According to him, Burundi's development vision aligns with the Chinese development path. "We appreciate the Chinese support in our journey toward becoming an emerging nation by 2040 and a developed country by 2060," said Bizimana.
Bizimana also commended the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Burundi and China since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963.
"Burundi highly appreciates China's unwavering commitment to the country's development and its cooperation across several priority sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, energy, technology, trade, and investment," he said.
"Through these various achievements, the cooperation between our two nations is making a tangible contribution to Burundi's socio-economic transformation and to improving the living conditions of its people," he added.
Bizimana also expressed hope for further growth in trade and investment between the two countries and encouraged the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to seize the opportunities offered by bilateral relations.
For her part, Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhu Kewei said China would continue to play its role as a responsible major country, closely linking its own development with the common development of all countries, applying governance with Chinese characteristics to global governance, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
According to Zhu, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Burundi relations have maintained a high-level development dynamic, setting an example of South-South cooperation.
"China actively supports Burundi's chairmanship of the African Union and Burundian efforts to realize the country's vision of an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060," she noted. ■