RPF and the Communist Party of China look to strengthen ties

Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) is inspired by how the Communist Party of China (CPC) has strengthened its leadership structures and training of cadres, and is looking to drawing lessons from them. This was observed during a three-day visit by a delegation of CPC, which on Sunday arrived in the country on the invitation of the RPF-Inkotanyi, the country’s governing party. The delegation, led by Wang Heming, the deputy director-general for African Affairs in the CPC, paid a courtesy call on the RPF Secretary-General, Francois Ngarambe, at the party’s headquarters in Kimihurura. According to Wang, the party-to-party engagement is a good platform for the two organisations to share experience in terms of state and party governance and how to emulate best practices in social and economic development. Wang addresses the media in Kigali yesterday. “We are willing to further develop and strengthen our relationship with RPF on the basis of complete equality and mutual respect,” said Wang, adding that the fact that the two are governing parties in their respective countries ensures that the cooperation at the party level oils relations at the state level. During the exchange meeting, members of the RPF-Inkotanyi picked particular interest in borrowing a leaf from CPC’s structure and leadership and mentorship programmes for their cadres. Following the delegation’s meeting with Ngarambe, Justine Mukobwa, an RPF commissioner, stated that despite mutual exchange programmes that have been ongoing for the past 18 years, there is still a lot to learn from their counterparts. “There is a lot to learn from the party’s activities, beginning with how they train their cadres, we also do it but we can take it to the next level, they have schools and other activities that strengthen the party through empowering their cadres,” Mukobwa said. Justine Mukobwa, an RPF commissioner briefs the media after the meeting. (Photos by Timothy Kisambira) The CPC delegation equally commended the achievements registered by the country which were spearheaded by RPF under the leadership of its chairman and the President of the Republic, Paul Kagame. Wang said he had last visited Rwanda in 2006 and that, since then, “there has been a tremendous change as regards development of the country.” In Just last year, through China and Africa partnership, President Xi Jinping announced a $60 billion support package in the course of the next three years on five major pillars of political equality founded on mutual trust, mutual economic cooperation, cultural exchange, security cooperation and solidarity in international affairs. In Rwanda, a number of projects are already lined up for Chinese funding, including expansion and upgrading of the Masaka Hospital which has been at the feasibility stage; a 54-kilomtre road network in the City of Kigali and the construction of government offices complex which will house Prime Minister’s office under and four other ministries. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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RPF and the Communist Party of China look to strengthen ties