Recently, H.E. Rao Hongwei, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, was jointly interviewed by Rwandan mainstream media houses, The NewTimes and IGIHE, on his completion of tenure in Rwanda. In the interview, Ambassador Rao looked back on the key developments of China-Rwanda bilateral relations in the past five years, delivered his goodwill message to Rwandan people and shared China’s stance on issues including so-called “Chinese debt trap” and conflicts in Ukraine.

Following is the full text of the written interview:

1. You started your term as ambassador of China to Rwanda in 2017. Since that time, what has your personal experience in Rwanda been like? Have you enjoyed the country? What memories are you carrying with you as you go back to China?

I arrived in Kigali in Feb. 2017. During my stay here, I visited all four provinces and at least 15 districts. I enjoyed the beautiful scenes of Rwanda. The tranquil water of Lake Kivu, the vast grasslands of Akagera, the lush rain forests of Virunga, are all parts of my vivid memory. The beautiful skyline of Kigali, the flowing traffic, the bustling markets, as well as the splendid parade on the day of Kwibohora 25, impress me so much and show how thriving and promising this land is.

I enjoyed the hospitality of Rwandan people from all walks of life which manifests the strong and profound friendship between our two countries. During my close interaction with them, I deeply felt their resilience, courage, and spirit of diligence and self-reliance. I also had the chance to join Umuganda, and learned from Rwanda’s wisdom of home-grown solutions.

Rwanda is my second hometown, and I will cherish the memories here.

2. Your term was characterized by great milestones between Rwanda and China, for example, the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Rwanda in 2018. How remarkable was this for both countries, and how do you think it improved the relations?

The historic visit of H.E. President Xi Jinping to Rwanda in July 2018 was the first ever visit by a Chinese head of state to Rwanda. The visit helped our two countries further deepen mutual political trust, strengthen practical cooperation including cooperation under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative, and usher the bilateral relationship into a new era.

Fifteen agreements signed during the visit are now being translated into projects and outcomes. Our cooperation in areas including trade, e-commerce investment, culture, health, education and training are greatly promoted. The expansion project of road from Gahanga to Bugesera is effectively reducing road congestion. Rwandan agricultural products including coffee, tea, dried chili and stevia accessed Chinese market. More and more Chinese enterprises are in Rwanda to invest in high value-added manufacturing industry like electric motorcycles, bamboo production, ICT and others.

Equally importantly, after President Xi’s visit in 2018, the people-to-people exchanges between our two countries have been enormously enhanced. I am sure that will lay a solid foundation for our friendship.

3. Also, during your tenure, China and Rwanda celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties. What’s your take on that as far as how far both countries’ relations have come, and what is your observation about the enthusiasm on both sides to maintain the relations for many more years?

Thanks to the stewardship of leaders of our two countries, China and Rwanda have fostered multidimensional and full-fledged relations, which are at their best in history.

Let me give a few examples. China is Rwanda’s largest trading partner with a bilateral trade volume of over US$300 million in 2021. China is Rwanda’s biggest project contractor which built a great number of key projects on energy, infrastructure, livelihood and manufacturing, and up to 70% of Rwanda’s national asphalt road construction were undertaken by Chinese companies. China is also bringing investment to Rwanda, with a stock amount of direct investment of US $334 million as of the end of last year.

As I wrote in an opinion piece in last November, our brotherhood roots from our culture and commonalities, builds on empathy and grows in trust. With strong political will from the leaders and wide support of the two peoples, the two countries will further deepen practical cooperation, strengthen the collaboration and synergy between national development strategies, so as to better benefit the two peoples and compose a new chapter of friendship that goes beyond thousands of hills and rivers.

4. On an unfortunate note, Covid-19 hit the world in 2020 and we are still grappling with the pandemic up to date. China has been supporting Rwanda in its fight against the pandemic, providing vaccines and other resources. Tell us more about China’s support in this regard. And what is more going forward as Rwanda is making bold efforts to recover from the pandemic?

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against the adversity, and further elevate the friendship between our two peoples. China has donated to Rwanda 500,000 doses of vaccines and five batches of medical supplies including PPEs, testing kits for COVID-19 and other medical equipment. In 2021, Chinese government provided a grant worth US$ 60 million, and wrote off US$ 6 million debt to Rwanda, with a view to helping Rwanda’s economy to recover from the pandemic. With the aid from China, the renovation and expansion project of Masaka Hospital will officially commence this year. Masaka Hospital will become one of the best hospitals in Rwanda once completed.

At the 8th ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last November, H.E. President Xi Jinping put forward 4 proposals and 9 programs for China-Africa cooperation in the following three years. We need to grasp this opportunity to achieve as much as possible to recover from the pandemic and benefit the two peoples.

5. How do you rate the resilience of the Rwandans during the COVID-19 times?

Under the strong leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame, Rwanda won a great battle against the pandemic. I witnessed the determined efforts of lockdown, the comprehensive measures to acquire vaccines and inoculate citizens, and the dynamic approach of balancing pandemic control and economic recovery.

Rwanda is one of the few African countries that have met WTO’s goal of vaccination. The fact demonstrates how effective the Rwandan government is and how supportive the Rwandan people are. Let me congratulate the great country of Rwanda and the heroic Rwandan people on the success.

6. COVID-19 has led to a number of challenges in the projects that Rwanda and China are cooperating in. What is being done in this regard?

We have to admit that the shocks of COVID-19 impacted the cooperation between our two countries. However, with the concerted efforts of the two sides, we managed to overcome the difficulties and advance our cooperation in many projects.

Last year saw the handover of the Extension Project of IPRC Musanze, the completion of the preliminary survey work for the Expansion and Upgrading Project of road from Prince House to Masaka, the signing of the concessional loan framework agreement for Smart Education Project, and the signing of the DTAA and its affiliated protocol. There were 23 training programs held via online platforms, and over six hundred Rwandans participated in these sessions last year. Online pavilions set up by Chinese exhibitions, also enabled exhibitors and buyers from Rwanda to participate in the China International Import Expo, Canton Fair and China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. In the near future, the 200-Borehole-Well Project will be completed soon. China is also working with Rwanda to grant duty-free treatment to 98 percent of Rwandan-origin goods exported to China.

7. China has overtaken other superpowers to trade more with Africa. Thus, there has been an outcry of Chinese debt trap in Africa. What’s your take on it and why has the accusation been growing?

Among China’s partners, no single country is beset with a debt crisis because of its cooperation with China.

Take Rwanda as an example, since 1971, China has provided a big amount of financing including interest-free loans, concessional loans, and other forms to Rwanda. The money has gone to all aspects of Rwanda’s social development, from infrastructure construction such as roads, bridges, hospitals and schools, to cooperation in agricultural technology and e-commerce. China has provided Rwanda with a US$ 214 million concessional loan for the Nyabarongo II Hydropower Project which will generate a large amount of electricity, provide many jobs, and transform the downstream swamps into 20,000 hectares of arable land. One can easily tell if China is making contribution to Rwanda’s development or damaging it with “trap”.

H.E. President Paul Kagame once dismissed the so-called “debt trap” and said that China has never forced any country to borrow from them to accumulate debt, while China’s financial support has opened up new pathways for cooperation.

China’s lending to African countries is not a “debt trap”, but an “economic pie” that benefits the local population. Behind the “debt trap” cliché is an immoral attempt to sabotage the time-tested dynamic partnership between China and Africa, deny China’s global efforts and contribution, and smear the international image of China.

8. What is your take on the War in Ukraine?

China is deeply concerned and grieved about the situation in Ukraine. China calls on the international community to redouble its efforts to promote peace talks and put the situation to an end at an early date. China is firmly opposed to moves by some countries to fuel the flame by escalating the sanctions and providing arms to the parties concerned.

China believes that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. Furthermore, China calls for preventing a massive humanitarian crisis. China has put forward an initiative for responding to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and provided Ukraine with humanitarian assistance. We will continue to play a constructive role in easing the situation, encouraging dialogue and negotiations, and preventing a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

9. What is your message to the Rwandan people as you leave? Also, what is your message to the Chinese people about the Rwandan people and our country in general?

Rwanda is my second hometown. I begin to miss this beautiful country even before I leave. In the past five years, I was very happy to witness the rapid development of Rwanda. I wish Rwanda success and prosperity under the leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front, and wish the Rwandan people health and happiness! I hope the friendship that is higher than mountains between China and Rwanda will further grow in the years to come.