President Paul Kagame has received the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Rao Hongwei for a farewell meeting as he ends his tour of duty.

Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed via Twitter handle that the envoy was received this afternoon at Urugwiro Village.

Amb. Rao Hongwei had presented credentials to President Paul Kagame in April 2017.

Rwanda and China started bilateral ties only after a decade of Rwanda’s Independence from Belgium.

Since 1971 and more particularly after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the two countries have worked closely to strategically develop their political and socio-economic ties.

China has greatly contributed to the development of Rwanda in key sectors ranging from investment, infrastructure, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to mining, health, agriculture, defense and security.

Among others, China currently ranks among the top investors in Rwanda which has created thousands of jobs in different sectors.

In addition to traditional cooperation areas, the two countries enjoy cooperation in e-commerce, trade in high-quality agricultural produce, as well as combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rwanda’s coffee beans are popular on China’s e-commerce platforms.

Rwanda became the first African country to export dried chili to China. Figures released last year show that some 50,000 tons of dried chili were expected to be exported to China in 5 years.

Speaking at the celebration the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and China, Amb. Hongwei said that the two countries have developed high-level political mutual trust over the years ’making bilateral relations as stable as a great rock in the face of any changes in the international situation’.

"Our economic and trade cooperation has gotten closer. China is proud to be Rwanda’s largest trading partner and largest project contractor," he said.

The bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2020 reached 321 million U.S. dollars despite the impact of COVID-19.

Since 1982, China has dispatched 21 medical teams to Rwanda, with a total of 258 doctors providing medical services to more than 700,000 local people, according to data from the embassy.

Over 5,000 students were enrolled by the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda while more than 2,000 members registered with the Rwanda Kung-Fu Wushu Federation.

Hundreds of Rwandan students receive Chinese scholarships to study in China every year while more and more Chinese have been learning about Rwanda and visiting for sightseeing and business.

Noting that people-to-people exchanges have expanded, the envoy also noted that the two countries support each other in international affairs and speak in one voice on many issues such as development and human rights.
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