On January 13, 2018 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at the Office of the President in Kigali.

Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping’s greetings to President Paul Kagame. Wang Yi expressed that China-Rwanda relations enjoy sound development and the two countries always share mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support. Last year, Mr. President paid a successful visit to China. The two heads of state had in-depth strategic dialogue which enhanced trust and friendship and charted the course for bilateral relations. Under the leadership of Mr. President, Rwanda has successfully embarked on a development path suited to its national conditions and supported by its people. China is willing to, together with Rwanda, strengthen the exchanges of experience in state governance and administration, enhance political mutual trust through strengthening exchanges, lift the level of practical cooperation through strengthening communication, enhance the level of mutual understanding through increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and improve the capability to jointly tackle international and regional challenges through facilitating communication and coordination. As the sincere friend and reliable partner of Rwanda and other African countries, China will render full support to Mr. President in performing his duty as the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) in order to play an important role in promoting solidarity among African countries and improving the international status and influence of Africa. China expects to strengthen communication with Rwanda, ensuring that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit will become a historic event for promoting China-Africa friendship and solidarity.

Paul Kagame asked Wang Yi to convey his greetings and wishes to President Xi Jinping, and expressed that his visit to China last March left a beautiful impression on him and he would like to thank again for the warm hospitality of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. Rwanda-China relations have been developing better and better. Rwanda appreciates China’s support and contributions to the country and appreciates that China chooses Rwanda as the first stop of Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Africa, which will be of great significance to the future development of Rwanda-China relations. At present, Africa is faced with challenges but also opportunities in its development. Africa has expectations and trust in China and is willing to see that China will play a more important role in Africa. As the AU rotating presidency, he will dedicate to advancing the institutional reform of the AU and the development of Africa and promoting Rwanda-China and Africa-China friendly cooperative relations for more achievements. He expects to visit China again to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit and is willing to cooperate closely with China to promote a complete success of the summit.