Mushikiwabo meets Chinese Vice-Premier

On the second day of her official visit to China, Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo paid a courtesy call on Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu.Minister Mushikiwabo was joined by China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yang Jiechi, at the meeting held in the Great Hall of the People, according to a statement.The four-day official visit to Beijing and Shanghai was at the invitation of the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs.During her meeting with Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, Minister Mushikiwabo recognised the Chinese contribution to Rwanda’s development.“We appreciate China’s steady partnership with Rwanda, particularly in the support of our efforts towards socio-economic development. Good partnerships are crucial to Rwanda’s reconstruction process, and cooperation with China, particularly in infrastructure, health, education as well as agriculture, has been instrumental in improving the lives of Rwandans,” she said.She added that; “We now look forward to building on our partnership in order to move faster on the economic cooperation. Rwanda and China will continue to support each other on regional and global issues of mutual interest.”In his remarks, the Vice-Premier, Hui-Liangyu commended Rwanda for the good strides in economic development and reaffirmed that Minister Mushikiwabo’s visit strengthens further the good bilateral relations.Rwanda and China have enjoyed good relations for the past 40 years and laid a good foundation for taking bilateral relations to new heights.Meanwhile, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Emmanuel Hategeka, and the Head of Investment Promotion at the Rwanda Development Board, Vivian Kayitesi, Minister Mushikiwabo, earlier met with her Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi and discussed China’s involvement in Rwandan affairs, especially in the area of infrastructural development.A statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry says Mushikiwabo took the opportunity to officially ask the People’s Republic of China’s support for Rwanda’s bid for a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council for the year 2013-14.Minister Jiechi stressed that other high level visits that have preceded this visit have been successful and instrumental in boosting economic and social ties between the two countries.“This visit will inject new dynamism in the relationship as well as boost cooperation through increased bilateral trade and mutual support,” the statement quotes Jiechi as says.Jiechi also commended President Paul Kagame for his recent remarks that China’s support to Africa serves the fundamental interests of Africans.The two ministers highlighted the importance of both countries unleashing their potential.Mushikiwabo also met with Vice Minister of Commerce Li Jinzao, with whom they discussed ongoing Chinese funded projects in Rwanda and future cooperation.She also engaged a group of African Ambassadors in China represented by their Dean, the Ambassador of Togo, Nola Tamar.

National

Mushikiwabo meets Chinese Vice-Premier