UNCLAS KIGALI 000218

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA: RECENT CHINA ACTIVITIES

REF: STATE 24937


1. (SBU) The Chinese and Rwandan governments conduct their
long-standing and productive relations on a number of levels.
Last year the Chinese Minister of Cooperation and a senior
Communist party official visited Kigali in August, under the
aegis of the Fifth Rwanda-China Joint Committee on Economic,
Technical and Trade Cooperation. The Chinese agreed to
finance a new building for the Foreign Ministry, and to
consider the construction of a new football stadium, a
women's center, and a Confucius Institute. A 20 person
Chinese business delegation came a week later. Later in the
year, President Kagame attended the Sino-Africa Summit, and
met with President Hu Jintao.


2. (SBU) China has long-term agricultural development
programs in Rwanda, including a pilot high-yield rice
program. It has built the majority of Rwanda's national
roads. Its Chancery is under-going a significant expansion
and refurbishment program, just down the road from the U.S.
Embassy. The Chinese are continuing discussions with the GOR
on the feasibility of a rail line from neighboring Tanzania.
It has offered soft loans for a number of development
projects.
ARIETTI