China-Rwanda Ties: Two countries have maintained steady cooperation since 1971

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Europe

02:31

China and Rwanda have a long history of cooperation. The two countries promised to work together more, boost personnel exchanges and share their experiences.

Rwanda, located in Central and East Africa, is one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. It is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the early 2000s, the country has witnessed an economic boom, improving the living standards of many Rwandans. President Paul Kagame even said he wanted to turn Rwanda into the "Singapore of Africa".

China and Rwanda established diplomatic relations in 1971. Since then, those friendly ties and cooperation efforts have only seen favorable development.

During meetings with President Kagame last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and Rwanda have always understood each other. He also noted both countries saw a rapid development in cooperation in economy and trade, and enjoyed many opportunities for people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Each year, several hundred talented young Rwandan students go to study in China on Chinese government scholarships. At China-built hospitals in Rwanda, caring and highly-skilled members of the Chinese medical teams are providing much needed services to more than 600,000 local people.

Rwanda has seen opportunities in the Belt and Road Initiative, as the proposal promotes Africa's business to the rest of the world. Reaching Rwanda and beyond, the initiative is regarded as a leap forward in connecting the continent and facilitating economic integration.

Ahead of his state visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted in his signed article in the Rwandan newspaper The New Times that China has become Rwanda's biggest trading partner and project contractor.

In 2017, bilateral trade volume reached 157 million US dollars, in industries such as electronics, automobiles and mineral products.

Back in March in the Rwandan capital Kigali, some 44 African countries signed an agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area. This area will cover a market of 1.2 billion people with a collective GDP of more than 2 trillion US dollars.