ARUSHA: THE East African Community (EAC) and China have reaffirmed their longstanding partnership and commitment to regional integration, following the signing of a certificate formalising China’s annual financial contribution of 180,000 US dollars (about 475.2m/-) the regional bloc.
EAC Secretary-General Ambassador Stephen Mbundi and China’s Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC, Chen Mingjian, signed the Certificate of Donation at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha recently, marking China’s continued financial support for the Community.
Speaking during the ceremony, Amb Mbundi commended the Chinese government for its longstanding friendship and practical support for the regional organisation.
“Today’s signing demonstrates China’s continued commitment to the EAC integration agenda and reflects the strong partnership that has developed between our two sides over many years,” he said.
He added that the Community remained committed to ensuring that the resources were utilised transparently, accountably and effectively for the benefit of East Africans.
The annual contribution supports the EAC’s institutional operations and regional integration priorities, including governance and institutional development, trade promotion, election observation, high-level leadership engagements and communication of the regional integration agenda.
China’s support has also extended beyond financial contributions to capacity building, professional training and knowledge-exchange programmes for EAC officials.
In 2023, China donated eight vehicles valued at approximately 400,000 US dollars to support the Secretariat’s operations and regional coordination activities.
The vehicles have strengthened the institution’s capacity to coordinate regional meetings and other Community programmes.
Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian said Beijing valued its longstanding cooperation with the EAC, describing its annual contribution as part of China’s commitment to regional integration, institutional development and practical cooperation.
“Our annual support reflects China’s commitment to strengthening regional integration, institutional development and cooperation that delivers practical benefits to the people of East Africa,” she said.
She added that China was ready to continue working with the EAC in support of its development priorities and its vision of a more integrated region.
Beyond institutional financing, the EAC and China are exploring opportunities to expand cooperation in areas including regional infrastructure and connectivity, trade and market access, climatechange adaptation, green energy, digitalisation, technology transfer, innovation and human-capital development.
The Community has also welcomed the prospect of establishing a structured EAC– China dialogue to identify priority regional projects aligned with the bloc’s Seventh EAC Development Strategy and China’s Global Development Initiative.
Proposed areas for further engagement include trade-enhancing infrastructure, industrialisation and value addition, digital trade and connectivity, climate adaptation, green energy, food security, development financing and institutional capacity building.
Such cooperation could help address shared regional development priorities by linking financial resources with technology, technical expertise and opportunities for private-sector participation.
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Ambassador Mbundi emphasised the importance of developing practical, projectbased partnerships that combine financing, technology and knowledge transfer, capacity building and privatesector involvement while delivering measurable benefits across the region.
“We look forward to working with China to translate our shared priorities into a focused programme of cooperation aligned with the Seventh EAC Development Strategy and the Global Development Initiative,” he said.
“Our objective is to build a forward-looking partnership that contributes to a more integrated, competitive and prosperous East African region,” he added.
Ambassador Chen also expressed optimism about the potential for broader cooperation, citing opportunities in infrastructure, trade, green development, the digital economy, technology and capacity building.
“We look forward to working with the EAC to build on our achievements and deliver even greater development outcomes for East Africa,” she said.
The signing follows discussions between the EAC Secretariat and China in June 2026, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation beyond institutional support towards strategic initiatives that promote sustainable development, economic transformation and regional integration.
Over the years, the EAC– China partnership has expanded to encompass institutional financing, capacity development, logistical assistance, trade, infrastructure, knowledge exchange and strategic engagement.
Both sides have expressed their commitment to building on these achievements and pursuing initiatives that strengthen regional integration and deliver tangible benefits to East Africans.
The continued partnership is expected to provide a foundation for closer engagement on shared development priorities, with particular emphasis on strengthening regional connectivity, enhancing economic competitiveness and supporting the EAC’s longterm integration agenda.
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