What led to the excellent Sino-Burundian relationship?

On December 21, 1963, the Republic of Burundi and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed an excellent relationship based on friendship and cooperation and have become all-weather friends and good partners who work together for development. Despite the long distance between the two nation-states, their relationship has become even closer and stronger since June 6, 1972, when the first Economic, Technical and Commercial Cooperation Agreement was signed. China-Burundi relations have withstood and continue to stand the test of time and changes in the international environment, and the two countries remain long-standing friends who share good times and bad, good partners who value mutual respect in their interactions and a burning desire to develop together.

Observers of the excellent relationship of friendship and cooperation between Burundi and China would then ask themselves what lies at the root of this healthy development in relations?

At the center of the China-Burundi relationship are several solid foundations, including strong political mutual trust; socio-economic cooperation in the fields of education, health, agriculture, energy, transport and communication; and cooperation in international institutions and forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, etc. for mutual support in defending vital interests affecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our two countries.

Strong political mutual trust

Political mutual trust is based on two major facts: the fact that the Communist Party of China (CPC) had a good relationship with Burundi political party – the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), which fought for and obtained the country's independence on July 1, 1962; and the fact that Burundi was among the first independent African nations to believe in the one-China principle, supporting and fighting for unity and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China.

These good relations have always been marked by the exchanges of high-level delegations between the two countries. Indeed, at the invitation of the Chinese government, several high-ranking Burundian personalities have made working visits to China. For example, from 2005 to the present day, visits by the president of the Republic of Burundi; the president of the National Assembly of Burundi; the first vice-president of the Republic of Burundi; the second vice-president of the Republic of Burundi; members of Parliament and senators; several ministers and deputy ministers as well as other senior officials of the country have taken place.

Similarly, Chinese senior leaders, including the minister of Foreign Affairs, the vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, the vice-minister of Commerce, a representative of the Communist Party of China, vice-governors of provinces, special envoys and other senior officials of the People's Republic of China have also visited Burundi.

From July 28 to August 2, 2023, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye paid a State visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders had another meeting a month later in Johannesburg, South Africa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. These frequent and regular high-level visits illustrate the mutual political trust between Burundi and China.

Mutual aid and trade

Bilateral cooperation between Burundi and China is appreciated both in terms of quality and quantity. This cooperation, which is not accompanied by any conditionality, is based on the solid foundation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of the other nation-state, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial or win-win relations. Thus, China provides multifaceted support to the Burundian side in the fields of education, health and agriculture; and the construction of public infrastructure such as the presidential palace, roads, and hydroelectric dams, while Burundi imports considerable quantities of goods and services from China.

While our friendship and cooperation are excellent, our two countries feel the need to further strengthen economic and trade ties. Trade figures between Burundi and China remain modest and Burundi imports more from China than what it exports. Knowing that Burundi experienced a long period of civil war (1993-2005), which severely affected its production for export, the country exports far fewer products and services than it imports from China and elsewhere.

However, since the political and security stabilization of the country in 2005 and the return to democratic and constitutional order under the inclusive and reconciling leadership of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Force for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), Burundians are working hard to revive the national economy, to produce more for export, to rebuild the nation, and to establish symbiotic, balanced and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations with its partners including China.

The strong and sincere friendship between Burundi and China will be used in our prospects to strengthen collaboration in key and priority sectors of the national economy that are included in Burundi's National Development Plan for 2018-2027. This economic cooperation will also allow the realization of the vision of having Burundi emerging by 2040 and Burundi developed by 2060, which was put forward by the responsible and hard-working government, under the enlightened leadership of President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

Multilateral cooperation

China and Burundi collaborate in the international institutions and forums of the United Nations and its specialized agencies on several issues related to the core interests of both countries such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, human rights, peace and security. Burundi does not hesitate to support the one-China principle, and always reiterates and articulates this conviction in international institutions.

This stance contributed to the return of the United Nations Seat to the People's Republic of China (PRC) from Taiwan as Burundi voted in favor of resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly to restore all lawful rights of the PRC in the UN and recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate UN representatives of China.

The PRC, in turn, remains the country that supports, fights for the vital interests of Burundi, the sovereignty and national security of this country, known as the Heart of Africa, in international bodies and forums, especially in the UN Security Council as a permanent member of this Council holding veto power.

For example, during the political crisis that Burundi went through from 2015 to 2020, China is one of the few countries that continued to assist Burundi in the UN Security Council, thwarting several resolutions against Burundi, and has continued to implement development projects, and to respond spontaneously in favor of the affected populations.

In addition to this cooperation, the two countries are working together through the multiple initiatives proposed by China, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. These initiatives, which prove China's determination to develop peacefully with the other nations of the world, are highly appreciated and supported by Burundi for the promotion of shared development.

(The writer Telesphore Irambona is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Burundi to China.)