On the evening of September 5, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Rwanda relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping pointed out, both the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) uphold the principle that the Party builds itself in the interest of, and exercises governance for, the people, and have made outstanding achievements in Party building and leading national development, winning the support of the people. China supports Rwanda in pursuing an independent development path, and is ready to deepen exchanges of Party and state governance experience, enhance political mutual trust, expand consensus on visions, and move forward side by side on their respective modernization paths.
Xi Jinping stressed that the FOCAC Beijing Summit has provided a historic opportunity for the upgrading of China-Rwanda friendly relations. China is ready to work with Rwanda to deliver on the outcomes of the summit, strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture and satellite applications, and jointly ensure the success of the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda and the Luban Workshop, so as to push for more outcomes in the two countries' high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China appreciates Rwanda's positive role in maintaining peace and security in Africa and is ready to deepen cooperation with Rwanda in peacekeeping and other fields.
Paul Kagame said, he still remembers vividly President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Rwanda in 2018. The people of Rwanda and China share similar visions and both advocate multilateralism and respect sovereignty and independence. Rwanda firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports China in achieving national reunification, which is based on the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries. He thanked President Xi Jinping for his important leading role in promoting peace and security in Africa, enhancing African solidarity and cooperation, and deepening Africa-China friendly cooperation. Rwanda regards China as a friend and partner worthy of long-term trust and is ready to strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance with China, advance practical cooperation in various fields, and jointly implement the three global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping.
The two sides issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Rwanda on Jointly Promoting the Implementation of the Three Global Initiatives.
During the summit, China and Rwanda signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents on promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, honey export to China, digital sector and information communication, and news media, among other fields.
Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
