Chinese ambassador to Rwanda, Rao Hongwei, has said that the Asian country’s development will create more opportunities for Rwanda and Africa in general. The envoy was speaking on Saturday at a reception organised to mark the Chinese New Year at the Chinese embassy in Kigali. On the Chinese calendar, the New Year falls on February 5, but the Chinese in Rwanda have marked it much earlier. Speaking to the people that turned up for the event, Amb. Rao presented some of China’s achievements over the past decades among which it realised an average annual GDP growth rate of 9.5 per cent, became the second largest economy, and makes up to 30 per cent of the global economic growth. “China’s development will create more opportunities for Rwanda and Africa, while Rwanda and Africa’s growth will add new driving forces to China,” he said. Reflecting on President Xi Jinping’s visit to Rwanda last year, the envoy said that the leaders of the two countries reaffirmed the willingness to translate “our traditional friendship and high level political trust into concrete benefits for the two countries.” Rao also spoke about “the solemn mission” to promote the peaceful reunification of mainland China with Taiwan. “We (are of the view that) cross-strait reunification is the trend of history and a must for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said. The Minister for Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye, who represented the Government of Rwanda, said that trade and investment between the two countries has remained steady as she promised to continue to work towards diversifying the economy, promoting industrialisation and Made-in-Rwanda products with view to see an increase of exports to China as well as a large presence of Chinese companies in Rwanda. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is an important traditional festival in China. This year, according to the 12 animal zodiac of the Chinese calendar, it is the year of the pig. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
