Zhang Dejiang Speaker of the Chinese Parliament last year showing an artistic Impression of Administrative complex under construction in Rwanda
President Paul Kagame is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, a meeting that will tremendously reinforce the existing relationship in trade, investment and exchange of expertise between both countries.
Kagame is in China is a 2-day visit scheduled for March 17-18.
The meeting comes at a time a hundred Chinese and Rwandan delegates are discussing areas of investment at the Rwanda China Investment Forum in Beijing.
Rwanda and the quick emerging China have good relationship which is reflected in several components; trade, health, education, infrastructure, industry and transport among others.
Examples include Masaka hospital in Kicukiro district which was supported by China to a tune of Rwf 9.5 billion. The hospital is set to transform into a university teaching hospital, the second after Kigali University teaching hospital.
Rwanda sends students to study in China to acquire important skills the country needs to develop. Some of these students get scholarship from Chinese universities.
China has a strong and growing presence in Rwanda especially in areas of trade and investment for example; C&H garment – an apparel industry producing massively for both local market and for export.
The China Road Bridge Corporation has become an iconic company in construction of roads in Rwanda, currently expanding roads in city of Kigali. Rwanda and China will share the cost of these roads, $ 76million (Rwf 63 billion).
Local transport companies are shipping buses from Chinese automobile companies to assure smart transport in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, in March 2016, Zhang Dejiang, the Speaker of China Parliament laid a foundation stone for construction of a $ 26.5 million administrative building that will host the Prime Minister’s office, other ministries and public institutions. This project is sponsored by Chinese government and construction will be completed in 2018.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has strong ties with Rwanda’s ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Inkotanyi.
Delegates from both parties visit their respective countries to exchange development and leadership ideas.
China and Rwanda established diplomatic relations on November 12, 1971.
Delegates at the Rwanda-China Investment Forum in Beijing
