The visiting chairman of the National People's Congress of China on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to Senate president Bernard Makuza, which the latter said, was an opportunity to discuss trade ties and parliamentary cooperation.

Zhang Dejiang is in the country for a two-day official visit, which officials have described as significant and meant to boost the two country’s relations.

Mutual respect

Makuza told reporters shortly after meeting Zhang at Parliament in Kigali that their talks focused on how to strengthen trade ties, cooperate more on parliamentary affairs and get China’s help in building roads, producing electricity, building hospitals, add value to agricultural products, and strengthen political cooperation such as in the area of parliamentary affairs.

"We emphasised that our cooperation and relations are based on mutual respect, not plans imposed on us. So, we as a country have our own interests,” Makuza said.

He added that there is a lot that Rwanda can learn from China, including having a vision for what you want, humility, and hard work.

Zhang is visiting the country on the invitation of Donatille Mukabalisa, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies whom he met Tuesday.

The visit is a top legislature exchange between both countries and a key part of the implementation of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held last December.

At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a three-year $60-billion Chinese package to Africa, which includes a $5-billion package that African countries will access in form of grants and zero interest loans, $35 billion in form of concessional loans and export credit lines as well as another $5 billion to boost the China-Africa Development Fund and support for SMEs.

The $60-billion package also includes $10 billion as initial contribution for the establishment of a China-Africa Fund for production capacity cooperation, which is likely to help industries on the continent.

It is planned that Rwanda will benefit from the package to expand and up-grade Masaka hospital, build a 54km road network in the City of Kigali, and build a modern government office complex in Kigali that will house the Prime Minister’s office and four other ministries.

In 2014, bilateral trade between the two countries was worth $207 million with imports from China to Rwanda dominating the exchange.

Before leaving Rwanda today, Zhang will also meet President Paul Kagame and attend the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Rwanda Administration Office Complex, which will house the Prime Minister’s office and four other ministries.