Rwanda

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, the friendly and cooperative relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Rwanda grew in a sound and steady manner.

The two countries maintained a good momentum of political exchanges. In February, Ambassador Zhong Jianhua, special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs, visited Rwanda. In March, Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, joined a breakfast meeting between Chinese and African leaders in Durban, South Africa. Also in March, the Rwandan government sent a letter of congratulations to the Chinese government on the election of President Xi Jinping. In April, the Rwandan government sent messages of sympathy to the Chinese government after the earthquake in Lushan, Sichuan on 20 April.

In September, China's new Ambassador to Rwanda Shen Yongxiang presented his credentials to President Paul Kagame.

Steady progress was made in business cooperation. In May, China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Jinzao visited Rwanda. He met with Prime Minister Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, co-chaired the seventh session of the Joint Committee on Economic, Technical and Trade Cooperation between China and Rwanda with Minister of Infrastructure Silas Lwakabamba, and signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda. In June, Rwanda sent a delegation to attend the second China (Beijing) International Fair on Trade in Services. In November, a business delegation from Zhejiang Province visited Rwanda and met with President Kagame.

There were vibrant cultural, educational and local exchanges. The "Happy Chinese New Year" arts troupe, sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture, staged performances in Rwanda. Delegations of China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and Nanjing Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries paid visits to Rwanda on separate occasions. Rwandan Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana came to China to attend the PT/EXPO COMM CHINA 2013.