Today at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received Minister Liu Jianchao, the head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and delegation who are in Rwanda on a tour of the continent.
Accompanied by a CPC delegation, Minister Liu Jianchao is on a three-day visit to Rwanda, which started on Wednesday, July 26. He is expected to meet various senior government officials.
Yesterday, Mr. Liu Jianchao and his delegation paid respects to the victims of Genocide against the Tutsi and toured memorial exhibits to learn more about the history of Genocide. He praised Rwanda for its remarkable efforts towards reconciliation following the horrific 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“The Chinese people and the CPC have great sympathy for the victims of the genocide. We are deeply sorry for this tragic chapter in history. Now, it is crucial for the Rwandan people to rise again and embark on a new path towards national prosperity and sustainability,” Minister Liu Jianchao said during an interview at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
Minister Liu Jianchao also visited the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) headquarters in Rusororo. He held a meeting with Wellars Gasamagera, the Secretary-General of the party, who said that Rwanda intends to continue learning from China’s development experiences.
Minister Liu Jianchao expressed his gratitude and appreciation for “the strong relations and cooperation between the Communist Party of China and the Rwanda Patriotic Front, as well as between both countries.”
The Chinese Minister also had a meeting with Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Liu Jianchao reiterated China’s commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation with Rwanda. Both parties discussed several areas of mutual interest, including political, economic, and social cooperation.
From Rwanda’s perspective, Minister Biruta expressed his appreciation for China’s continued support in Rwanda’s development endeavors. He acknowledged China’s instrumental role in Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, technology, and capacity building. (End)