KIGALI — The economic and diplomatic relationship between China and Rwanda is currently “at its best in history,” according to Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Gao Wenqi, who presided over a major China-Rwanda Business-to-Business (B2B) matching event in Kigali last Saturday. The event, a joint effort by the Rwanda China Alumni Organization (RCAO), the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Rwanda (CCCRW), and the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, was designed to catalyze job creation, enhance knowledge sharing, and promote technology transfer, celebrating 54 years of bilateral relations.
Ambassador Gao underscored the tangible success of the partnership, citing his recent extensive visits across Rwanda’s provinces where he witnessed the “fruitful outcomes of our cooperation” and a strong desire among Rwandans for further collaboration. Following the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership at last year’s Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, both nations have agreed on 12 key cooperation projects spanning the next three years. These initiatives target critical sectors including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, healthcare, education, science and technology, and capacity building.
China, already Rwanda’s largest trading partner and a key source of foreign investment, is actively working to open its market further to Rwandan goods. The Ambassador highlighted China’s decision last September to grant zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines to 33 African countries and revealed that Kigali and Beijing are nearing finalization of a new framework agreement to widen market access for Rwandan products. With bilateral trade projected to exceed US$700 million, cooperation is expanding into forward-looking areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, green energy, fintech, and sustainable development, with several major projects already underway or in advanced planning stages in Rwanda.
RCAO Chairman Theoneste Higaniro emphasized that the B2B event was crucial for sustaining the long-standing economic and diplomatic ties, enabling the organization to connect Rwandan and Chinese businesses for the benefit of local companies. He stressed that the event’s essence transcends mere networking, focusing instead on “creating sustainable partnerships and fostering innovations to drive progress.” Higaniro further noted the critical importance of Chinese companies succeeding in the local market through collaborations that involve local counterparts, ensuring mutual support and expertise sharing.
Echoing this sentiment, Haung Qilin, Chairman of the CCCRW, reflected on his 15 years in Rwanda, noting the strong foundation of trust, respect, and cooperation that has yielded “tangible results,” particularly in business and investments. He commended Rwanda’s excellent business environment, which has allowed Chinese companies to flourish, create jobs, and significantly contribute to knowledge and technology transfer. Jean Paul Bazihana, Head of the Trade Cluster at the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, reaffirmed China’s role as one of Rwanda’s most “consistent and impactful development partners,” citing increasing Chinese investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, ICT, and hospitality.
Bazihana concluded that the B2B meeting is a strategic platform for deepening private sector engagement, essential for sustained economic transformation. He stated that it is a space where “meaningful connections, investment opportunities, and long-term partnerships can take shape,” reflecting a growing friendship built on shared aspirations for development, innovation, and prosperity. Ambassador Gao concluded the event with optimism, expressing hope that “the path of cooperation between our businesses will grow ever broader, and that the tree of friendship between our two peoples will remain evergreen.”
