Hello, and welcome to this edition of  Africa Express here on China Radio International. I'm your host, Wei Tong. 

Eight years ago, top leaders from three east African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda signed a treaty with the goal of re-establishing the East African Community, or EAC which was initially founded in 1967 and dissolved ten years later.

In the past eight years, how has EAC contributed to the economic integration and trade facilitation within the east African states? And what do the new membership of Rwanda and Burundi signify for EAC? Earlier, at a celebration in Beijing, I had a dialogue with Ugandan ambassador to China, H.E. Charles Wagidoso, whose country chairs the organization this year.

1. What led to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania establish EAC 40 years ago? What led to its dissolution ten years later?

2. Under what circumstances did the three countries re-establish the regional organization?

3. EAC's relations and cooperation with China

4. What is the significance of the admission of Rwanda and Burundi to EAC?

5. How far will EAC go to realize customs union, common market, monetary union as well as the ultimate goal of a political federation of East African states? What is the significance of these goals to EAC? What are the difficulties and challenges for EAC to realize them?

That was Charles Wagisodo, Ugandan ambassador to China about the eighth anniversary of the re-establishment of East African Community, or EAC.

Now that wraps up this edition of  Africa Express. If you would like to listen to this or other stories again, please log onto our website: www.crienglish.com. I am Wei Tong. Thanks for listening and bye for now!