The Government of Rwanda and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, yesterday, signed six economic and technical cooperation agreements.

The pacts were signed by the Chinese International Trade Representative and Deputy Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng, and various Rwandan ministers; Foreign Affairs, Health, Infrastructure and Agriculture.

The pact included two financial agreements of Yuan 50m (approx Rwf4.6bn) grant to finance the projects agreed upon by both governments and another Yuan 50m, a 5-year interest-free loan.

Both governments also signed an agreement to dispatch an expert group to Rwanda for a feasibility study on a 25 kms road construction project in the City of Kigali, financed by the Chinese government.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, said that, the agreements demonstrated the close and friendly relations that exist between the two countries.

"The talks were very successful and ended with a promise of a new level in cooperation between China and Rwanda,” said the minister.

"Our two governments and people have deeply engaged each other and built bridges of confidence and understanding”.

Mushikiwabo commended China for being one of the first countries to support Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"We appreciate the support you have rendered to our country and we promise to put it to good use, as we have done previously,” she told Hucheng.

The Foreign Minister noted that Rwanda is working hard to provide a conducive business environment to investors.

She highlighted several key interventions which China has provided to Rwandans, especially the business community, and commended the Chinese government for the support.

Mushikiwabo emphasised that Rwanda supports the China-Africa partnership put forward during the Beijing summit in 2006, adding that President Paul Kagame has been an advocate for the arrangement.

The two parties also signed the pact to undertake the implementation of an administrative office complex with a total construction area of about 8,300 square metres and the delivery and receipt of a certificate for the Masaka Polyclinic project.

Another agreement signed was the delivery and reception ceremony of the Certificate for the Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centre project.

On his part, Hucheng said that the agreements attach great importance to the good friendly relations existing between two countries.

"China will continue to make sure that the development assistance is conducted properly; we are committed to continue providing assistance to Rwanda in order to develop the economy and improve people’s livelihood,” he said.

Hucheng encouraged the Rwandan business community to continue attending trade fairs in China to expand Rwandan exports in his country.

"We are going to continue encouraging competent Chinese companies to invest in various sectors in Rwanda,” the Chinese Minister added.

Hucheng pledged that his country will intensify cooperation in the development of human resources and China is ready to provide assistance in the areas of capacity building to Rwandans.

Ends