Rwanda is stable and its people are happy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on his first official visit of the country.
The Chinese leader paid a two-day State visit to Kigali that began on Sunday.
At
a press conference on Monday, Mr Jinping said he has witnessed
“first-hand a vibrant and well organised country that is making good
progress in its development.
a press conference on Monday, Mr Jinping said he has witnessed
“first-hand a vibrant and well organised country that is making good
progress in its development.
“The country enjoys social harmony and stability and its people are leading a happy and content life.”
He said China was looking to build “mutually beneficial relations” with Rwanda and other African countries.
“I
am here this time with the aim of consolidating tradition friendship
between China and Rwanda and to work together with Mr President [Paul
Kagame] to plan for the future of our bilateral relations, as well as
the cooperation between China and Africa,” he said.
am here this time with the aim of consolidating tradition friendship
between China and Rwanda and to work together with Mr President [Paul
Kagame] to plan for the future of our bilateral relations, as well as
the cooperation between China and Africa,” he said.
“We want to see that our mutually beneficial relations can yield
more fruit and that our people and the people in Africa can have more
gains.”
more fruit and that our people and the people in Africa can have more
gains.”
Agreements
The
two leaders signed some 15 agreements in Kigali worth millions of
dollars on trade, infrastructure, investment, e-commerce, human
resource, culture, science and technology, aviation, mining, law
enforcement, visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders,
among others.
two leaders signed some 15 agreements in Kigali worth millions of
dollars on trade, infrastructure, investment, e-commerce, human
resource, culture, science and technology, aviation, mining, law
enforcement, visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders,
among others.
President Kagame said Mr Jinping’s
visit has deepened ties with Rwanda and strengthened its involvement
with the African continent an outcome he said is evidenced by the deals
signed between Rwanda and China.
visit has deepened ties with Rwanda and strengthened its involvement
with the African continent an outcome he said is evidenced by the deals
signed between Rwanda and China.
China will also fund
the expansion of Chinese-built Masaka District Hospital in Kigali, and
extend concessional loans for the construction of the 66km
Huye-Kibeho-Munini road in Southern Province and the Bugesera
International Airport access road project.
the expansion of Chinese-built Masaka District Hospital in Kigali, and
extend concessional loans for the construction of the 66km
Huye-Kibeho-Munini road in Southern Province and the Bugesera
International Airport access road project.
Home-grown development
The
leader of the Asian superpower said his country is seeking a new order
in international relations that are “more equitable and just”.
leader of the Asian superpower said his country is seeking a new order
in international relations that are “more equitable and just”.
President
Jinping added that his country recognises the process of reforming the
African Union led by President Kagame who is its current chairman.
Jinping added that his country recognises the process of reforming the
African Union led by President Kagame who is its current chairman.
“For
the past decades, China and African countries have been treating each
other with sincerity, friendship and pursuing solidarity and
cooperation. We are bound by the community of shared future and common
interest to grow our solidarity and cooperation with Africa as an
important foundation for China’s foreign policy and China’s longstanding
and unwavering strategic voice,” he said.
the past decades, China and African countries have been treating each
other with sincerity, friendship and pursuing solidarity and
cooperation. We are bound by the community of shared future and common
interest to grow our solidarity and cooperation with Africa as an
important foundation for China’s foreign policy and China’s longstanding
and unwavering strategic voice,” he said.
He said that
China supports Africa’s unified efforts that will lead to home-grown
sustainable development for the continent and that the Asian country is
looking to align its own development with that of Africa for a win-win
cooperation.
China supports Africa’s unified efforts that will lead to home-grown
sustainable development for the continent and that the Asian country is
looking to align its own development with that of Africa for a win-win
cooperation.
“The President and I have had an in-depth
and frank discussion on China-Rwanda relations, the Beijing Summit of
FOCAC (Forum for China-Africa Cooperation) and other international and
regional issues of our mutual interest,” Mr Jinping said.
and frank discussion on China-Rwanda relations, the Beijing Summit of
FOCAC (Forum for China-Africa Cooperation) and other international and
regional issues of our mutual interest,” Mr Jinping said.
The Summit will be held in September.
The
Chinese leader began his African tour last week in Senegal. Rwanda is
the second country he visited and will be heading to Johannesburg on
Tuesday for the BRICS Summit comprised of emerging economies Brazil,
Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Chinese leader began his African tour last week in Senegal. Rwanda is
the second country he visited and will be heading to Johannesburg on
Tuesday for the BRICS Summit comprised of emerging economies Brazil,
Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
He will thereafter visit Mauritius.
China
has, however, in recent decades come under heavy criticism for what
observers say is plundering of Africa’s natural resources and tying
African countries to high interest loans.
has, however, in recent decades come under heavy criticism for what
observers say is plundering of Africa’s natural resources and tying
African countries to high interest loans.
