On May 15, 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is here for a state visit to China and for the annual board meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB) Group in Shanghai.

Wen said China and Rwanda have developed reliable and stable relations since they established diplomatic relations in 1971. Currently bilateral ties enjoy a sound basis, he said. As long as the two countries make joint efforts and carry out the agreements reached during Kagame's current visit, China-Rwanda ties will be promising, Wen said.

Wen pointed out that China has long helped Rwanda build livelihood-related projects, which are welcomed by Rwandan people. At present, the two countries are constructing farmland projects and making preparations for the cooperative projects concerning agricultural technology, hospital, school and processing. Wen hoped the two countries would work closely and coordinately on these projects so as to bring economic and social benefits to the people.

In response, Kagame said recent years have witnessed stronger ties between the two countries. Rwanda has always benefited from its ties with China and appreciated China's assistance in infrastructure, culture and education. He said the two countries have maintained long-term friendly cooperation in international affairs and share a lot of common principles with mutual support for each other. Rwanda is ready to join hands with China to push bilateral ties to a new phase of accelerated development, he said.