Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in China

The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in China hosted the 32nd Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda (Kwibuka 32) in Beijing on Tuesday. Under the theme "Remember-Unite-Renew," the ceremony hosted around 150 guests.

Following the ceremony, Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo in an interview with the Global Times said that April 7 is designated by the United Nations and the African Union as the International Day of Remembrance and Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, "so that we keep the memory alive. But there's also an opportunity over time to honor the victims."

Kimonyo also said Rwanda is a living testimony that "you can actually be able to compete with the nations that never went through such similar tragedy. But one has to be able to overcome those differences, divisions that were instilled in the minds of our people and embrace transformation. Even after you go through such a tragedy of such a magnitude."

Talking about bilateral relations, the ambassador said that "we are enjoying the excellent and friendly relations with the People's Republic of China. It's now been 55 years since we established diplomatic relations." 

Very successful cooperation programs have been implemented ever since in various areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, education, health and technology. "We believe that given the current challenges that the world faces, China and Rwanda will continue to work together to make sure that we achieve a better future for our two peoples, but also for the entire world," he noted. 

In September 2024, both countries elevated the China-Rwanda relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

"This means a lot in terms of what to do together as countries. Going forward, we expect it to continue," Kimonyo said. 

Sharing his view on the situation in the Middle East, the ambassador said China believes that dialogue among conflicting parties is crucial. "So we are hoping that countries that are involved in the Middle East conflict will have time to sit and talk and resolve the issues. China can contribute to the peace process in various parts of the world," he said. 

Moreover, the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ushered China-Africa relations into a new phase of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.

Kimonyo said FOCAC is one of the frameworks that have contributed to China-Africa cooperation in a very tangible manner in terms of contributing to various development projects. "We are seeing growth in terms of what Chinese [companies] are providing to support."

FOCAC is a very important platform for us to work together in various sectors, Kimonyo said.