Remarks by Amb. WANG Xuekun at the Opening Ceremony of China-Rwanda Training Course of Button Mushroom
2022/08/30

Mr. Patrick Karangwa, Director General of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board(RAB),

Dr. Placide Rukundo,

Dear friends,

Good morning!

I am very glad to welcome you to this training program co-sponsored by the Chinese Embassy and RAB. Let me first thank RAB for their work done for this event, and also thank Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources for their support. With this partnership, we are able to deliver tangible benefits to Rwanda people. I believe you, fellow students, are sure to gain from this training.

Dear friends,

I was honored to be Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda and arrived in May. Over the past few months, there is always a question lurking in my mind: how to strengthen China-Rwanda friendship. This makes me think of what my President XI Jinping has said. He said that state-to-state relations rely on their peoples. So my answer is simple: invest in Rwandan people, encourage them, support them and help them to live a better life. Let them benefit from China-Rwanda cooperation. This is the best way to strengthen our bilateral ties. This is also the ultimate goal of a sound bilateral relations.  

Rwanda and my country are very much alike. Both of them are endowed with kind, intelligent and united people. Both of them have suffered a lot in the past, but full of hope and energy to strive for the best. Both our two governments put their people at the first place. I feel very close to you as to my people, and I feel at home in Rwanda. This makes me more firm and resolute to do something for local people .

In this respect, China has some to share and offer. In 2021, China achieved its goal of eradicating absolute poverty. Since 1980s, we lifted 770 million people out of poverty. All this started from the agriculture development, where the most great achievement was made.

I came from an under-developed countryside in China, it is a very poor county. I know how hard it is to get out of poverty. An important experience from China is to relieve poverty by bringing industry and business to backwater areas. Mushroom-growing is one of the many sectors that Chinese government promotes. By setting up a new kind of business, people’s capacity is enhanced. They can stand on their own feet.

Friends,

Last year, President XI Jinping put forward Global Development Initiative, which puts poverty eradication and food security one of its priorities. It is a re-activation of implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. And it injects new impetus to global development. Not long ago, China and Africa hosted the Coordinator’s Meeting on Implementation of Follow-up Actions of the 8th Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC. During that meeting, China pledges to mobilize more resources in favor of Africa to eradicate poverty and support development.

By holding this training, China is fulfilling its commitments and making its initiative take root in Rwanda. We should always bear in mind, that it is important to support Rwanda people through concrete actions. By working together, let us make mushroom-growing a path to prosperity. And we have every reason to believe it will be achieved.

First, we have successful experience. We are not starting from scratch, we have a solid basis. When my President was chief of a provincial government in 1990s, he championed the promotion of mushroom production and helped spread it to backward areas in China. This improved livelihood of many farmers and they are still benefiting.

Second, China has the most advanced technology. Traditionally, before 1980s, mushroom growing consumes large amount of wood, which brings heavy burden to forestry. But thanks to the innovation of Chinese scientists, that is no longer a must. It becomes environmental-friendly by using chopped grass instead of wood. And it is easy to enlarge production.

Third, there is huge potential market. As people’s living standard improves, more and more of them would like to have a more healthy and balanced diet. Mushroom is very nutritious and just belongs to healthy diet. As a mushroom lover, I will always be your strong supporter.   

Friends,

Rwanda has registered remarkable success in past years. Since the Chinese new technology was brought to Rwanda in 2006, about 35000 mushroom growers have been trained. Around 250 tons of mushroom are harvested per year. In 2017, a story of a Rwandan mushroom grower was filmed and played at the United Nations. You have impressed the world. This training focuses on cultivation of a new variety of mushroom. I encourage you to forge ahead and make more progress.

In closing, Chinese Embassy is more than happy to sponsor this training, and I believe you will find out your own path to prosperity.

I wish you success.

Thank you!