Bank of Kigali (BK) PLC, on Saturday, February 24 hosted members of the Chinese community living in Rwanda to a Lunar New Year party, as a way of appreciating their clientele and getting feedback about its services.

The Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars. Also known as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, the day is celebrated in February to welcome the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.

Hosted at ALink restaurant in Kigali, the party was attended by various Chinese people in Rwanda as well as some Rwandans and BK officials.

"It shows that we are glad for the partnership we have with them (Chinese people). We want to continue with the partnership but also, we want to get feedback from them about our services,” said Desire Rumanyika, the Chief Digital and Retail Officer at BK.

BK enjoys good clientele from the Chinese community in Rwanda. The bank provides services to Chinese clients on institutional and individual basis.

In 2022, BK opened the use of AliPay, a platform that allows people to send money to China affordably and fast. So far, the platform has got good response from clients. For example, in 2023, up to $2million was sent from Rwanda to China through it.

"We are trying to negotiate so that in future, the platform can also be used to receive money in Rwanda,” he said.

Speaking about the bank’s use of technology, Rumanyika noted that all banking services can be accessed on the phone, be it smart or not.

"We are doing really well, but we have to continue to do more because technology is always evolving,” he said.

China’s ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun, in a media interview, said the Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people.

He noted that as the year begins, it is a great time for both countries, because it is the 75th anniversary of the creation of the People’s Republic of China, while it is the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Rwanda.

"We have achieved great progress in development,” he noted.

"We work together, develop together, and respect each other. We share good mutual political confidence in each other. We are glad to see the Chinese community as a partner in the development of Rwanda and I hope they can contribute more to the local communities,” he added.

He commended BK as a very good commercial bank that has good relations with the Chinese people.