China commends RPF leadership

China’s ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has hailed the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) leadership for its remarkable achievements in the development of the country. Li Yuanchao, a member of CPC’s Political Bureau and Secretariat, made the remarks yesterday while speaking to journalists, shortly after meeting President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. “We extend our admiration to the great and remarkable achievements made by Rwanda under the leadership of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). “We hope that Rwanda and RPF in particular, will in the future make greater achievements and more success in terms of promoting the national unity and reconciliation, economic development and social stability,” Yuanchao said. Yuanchao is heading a team of 22 senior Chinese officials, who include ministers and directors of various government departments, who are on a three-day tour of Rwanda at the invitation of RPF. The visit is part of China’s annual event where, every January, senior government and ruling party bureaucrats visit several African countries to enhance the China-Africa relations. Yuanchao noted that their visit to Rwanda is aimed at promoting the friendship between the two countries. “I had a very good and fruitful discussion with President Kagame; he said that China and Rwanda are good partners and good friends; but I want to add on that, that we are sincere friends, true friends and friends forever,” he explained. Francois Ngarambe, the Secretary General of RPF, said Yuanchao extended to President Kagame salutations from his Chinese counterpart and agreed to continue strengthening the friendship between two countries, and to work together for the good of the citizens of both countries. “The friendship is not only based on economic benefits, but also on the shared beliefs,” Ngarambe observed. Rwanda and China have enjoyed bilateral relations for the last 40 years. Last year, China increased its Official Development Aid (ODA) to Rwanda by three fold, to 200 million Chinese Yuan. It will also construct a 80 million Chinese Yuan (approximately Rwf7.6bn) model Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) School in Musanze District. The school will offer training in construction, agriculture and food processing, ICT and electronics. China also funded the construction of Masaka Hospital with the first phase of the facility costing a total of 100 million Yuan (approx Rwf9.5 bn) so far. The hospital which is scheduled to be handed over to the government this year will have 100 beds; provide outpatient and inpatient services, and an Anti-Malaria research centre. It is later set to convert to Kicukiro District Hospital. bosco.asiimwe@newtimes.co.rw

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China commends RPF leadership