Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the country next month for a 2-day state visit. According to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe, the highly anticipated visit will see the two countries further strengthen their relations. Xi Jinping will be the first Chinese President to visit the country in recent history. “The purpose is to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. During the visit, it will be an occasion to sign new agreements and launch new projects that will be of mutual benefit to the two states,” Nduhungirehe said. He is expected to jet in on July 22 and depart July 23. Nduhungirehe revealed other heads of state who are scheduled to visit Rwanda before the end of this year. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique are also expected in July. President Paul Kagame was in China early 2017 where he held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart. Kagame has also visited India twice in the last couple of years with an aim to further strengthen ties between the two countries. Nduhungirehe, while addressing a press conference at the ministry in Kimihurura, also spoke about Minister Louise Mushikiwabo’s bid for the position of Secretary General of International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). Mushikiwabo is up against incumbent Michaëlle Jean, from Canada. The Rwandan Foreign Minister will seek the endorsement of the African Union during the organisation’s summit scheduled for next month in Mauritania. About 30 African states are members of the organisation. Nduhungirehe also confirmed that President Kagame had officially written to all African OIF member states to back the Rwandan candidate. If elected, Mushikiwabo’s agenda includes advancing peace and security and the promotion of the youth through increasing opportunity. “We believe that the organisation [OIF] has an important role to play in advancing the agenda,” Nduhungirehe said. Rwanda has been a member of the OIF for close to 50 years. The organisation comprises 84 countries, however, only 54 have voting rights, including 30 from Africa. French President Emmanuel Macron publically endorsed Mushikiwabo last month. The elections are slated for October 2018 during the organisation’s summit in Armenia. During the press conference, Nduhungirehe fielded questions from a wide range of issues including internal matters of neighbouring countries. “We don’t meddle in other countries internal politics,” he said, responding to a question on the upcoming elections in the DR Congo. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
