China's Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Liu Jianchao, has commended the spirit of reconciliation displayed by Rwandans following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and tipped the while the country for a prosperous future.
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Accompanied by a CPC delegation, Liu is on a three-day visit to Rwanda, which started on Wednesday, July 26. He is expected to meet various senior government officials.
"We admire the Rwandan people and Rwandan leadership for their strong spirit of reconciliation, for burying the hatchet and moving beyond hatred. I firmly believe that the people of this country will remain united for a peaceful and prosperous future," he said during an interview at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
"The Chinese people and the CPC have great sympathy for the victims of the genocide. We are deeply sorry for this tragic chapter in history. Now, it is crucial for the Rwandan people to rise again and embark on a new path towards national prosperity and sustainability," he added.
He emphasized that the genocide serves as a reminder to the world that staying united and confronting challenges are essential in the pursuit of peace, security, and harmony.
Liu also visited the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) headquarters in Rusororo, where he held a meeting with Wellars Gasamagera, the Secretary-General of the party.
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"We are here to express our gratitude and appreciation for the strong relations and cooperation between the Communist Party of China and the Rwanda Patriotic Front, as well as between both countries," he noted.
During his three-day visit, Liu will meet various leaders, including President Paul Kagame, whom he described as "a great man for the Rwandan people" and for people worldwide.
In a speech during the meeting, Gasamagera said that Rwanda intends to continue learning from China&039;s development experiences.
"I express our interest in learning from the wisdom and immense knowledge of China and look forward to leveraging this active cooperation for our own development," he said.
"I express our desire to see the relationship between Rwanda and China strengthened, particularly in targeted areas such as trade, economy, and infrastructure development, and hopefully exploring new areas of cooperation as well," he added.