The Chinese Community living in Rwanda joined their fellow Chinese around the world to observe the annual Qingming Festival, a traditional Chinese event to commemorate their lost ones.

The festival, also known as the Tomb Sweeping day, which falls on April 5, was commemorated in Rulindo District at a Cemetery where Chinese road constructors died are buried.

Speaking shortly after laying a wreath on the tombs, the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Sun Shuzhong, said that the 10 Chinese buried at the cemetery died while contributing to the development of the country hence worth remembering.

"Rwanda is holding an international symposium on the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. I attended the opening ceremony (Sunday) and I was impressed,” Shuzhong said.

"Today we are here in Rulindo sharing the same sorrow with one another, because right under this ground, rest ten Chinese people worth to be remembered during this special occasion”.

Among the people buried at the site include a Chinese national killed by rebel infiltrators in 1997 as well as others who died during the construction of Gitarama-Kibuye Road, King Faisal Hospital and Amahoro National Stadium.

The Chinese diplomat, further noted that the fallen souls ‘sacrificed their lives’ to improve lives of thousands adding that "We are glad to see today, under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, Rwanda now enjoys political stability, national unity, good governance and rapid social economic growth”.

Kabakeza, the Director General, Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, , said that the Government of Rwanda pays tribute to the Chinese nationals who sacrificed their lives for a good cause.

"These people are martyrs----they died for a just cause, they contributed to the socio-development of Rwanda and Rwandans,” Kabakeza,who was representing the Foreign Affairs Minister, said.

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