KIGALI - China is willing to use its super power clout to enhance peace and security in the region, especially the eastern DRC where negative forces have found sanctuary, a top Chinese diplomat promised Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday.
 Zhai Jun, China’s vice Foreign Minister in charge of African affairs said this at a three-day country visit during the Rwanda-China bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minaffet).

He stressed that China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council is committed to ensuring that the Great Lakes region enjoys peace and stability.

"We will make positive response to the appeals from the two Presidents and we support the path of peace, development, reconstruction and prosperity of these two countries and we look forward to the new achievements in socio-economic development of the two friendly countries and brothers of China,” Jun said.

"As a member of the UN Security Council and as a friend of this region, China is ready to work with other members of the International Community to play a constructive role in promoting long term stability and security in the Great Lakes region.”

"Your country and the DRC have improved relations and cooperated to fight illegal militants in the east of the DRC and this has played a very important role in easing the situation in this zone and the whole of the Great Lakes region, and China appreciates this.”

Mushikiwabo commended the Chinese diplomat for the support and  requested that China goes along to "support and encourage common positions reached by both Rwanda and the DRC in  normalization of ties.”

"We are now at a very special time, a time of transition from distrust and war to a time of trust and a determination to work together between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda,” Mushikiwabo said.

The Chinese Delegation later visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Centre and was scheduled to hold a business dinner with their Rwandan hosts in the evening.

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