KIGALI - The new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Rwanda, Shu Zhan, yesterday paid a courtesy visit to The New Times offices and newsrooms as he gets acquainted with the country.

The Ambassador was given a guided tour around the company’s administrative and editorial premises by the Managing Director, Joseph Bideri.

In an interview with The New Times, the Chinese Envoy said that his visit to the newspaper is part of his countrywide assessment of various sectors of the economy which the Asian country can continue supporting and exchanging ideas.

"I visited here because I have been involved in China-Africa relations for quite a long time and we found out that there is still a lot of room for us to improve, to directly tell the story of Africa to Chinese people,”

"I think The New Times is an active newspaper, I read it mostly online and I think it tells the story of Rwanda and the Rwandan people,”

"It does provide us with current information on the ground throughout the country which guides us in our daily activities.

I have a team which writes for Chinese Newspapers and The New Times guides them before they go out to look for news,” the Ambassador added.

Zhan said that his visits throughout the country also serve to tell the story of China to Africa, adding that there has been a shift in global attention where African countries prefer direct interaction with China rather than looking at issues through the American and European channel.

"There has been a growing understanding between China and African countries, the reason I came here is to see the possibilities of how we can continue developing that,”

"This country is very good. Comparatively speaking, I have been working in several African countries, but the Rwanda scenery has proved to be greener and the Rwandan people are very hard working,” Zhan said, adding that the level of determination and hard work by the Rwandan people is not often seen in other African countries.

Since his appointment, Zhan has visited several organisations around the country, as well as Chinese companies operating in Rwanda.

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