Rwandan President Paul Kagame arrived in Beijing on September 3 to attend the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, set to last until Friday. Shortly after his arrival, Kagame met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted China’s commitment to strengthening ties with Rwanda, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure and technology. Kagame echoed this sentiment, affirming Rwanda’s desire to further enhance bilateral relations with China, a partnership that has been growing since 1971.
Agriculture is the backbone of Rwanda’s economy, employing over 70 percent of the population, but outdated techniques and low productivity have limited its potential. Modernization is crucial if the country is to achieve food security and improve livelihoods. At a symposium in June 2024, Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Ildephonse Musafiri said, “African countries have a shared wish of improving agricultural productivity and optimizing the labor structure.”
He expressed hope that China would increase its investment, deepen agricultural science and technology cooperation, and create more successes like the Juncao (mushroom grass) project to help Rwandan farmers live a better life.
Chinese experts in Rwanda: A story of agricultural transformation
One of the most visible contributions to Rwanda’s agricultural modernization comes from Chinese experts like Zheng Ruijin and Chen Xiaobin, who have been stationed at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center in southern Rwanda. Zheng, a rice expert, has been working in the country since 2021, teaching local farmers techniques for rice transplanting, field management, and the cultivation of high-quality seedlings. His work has directly led to increased grain yields in several regions, providing a sustainable path toward food security.
Chen Xiaobin, a Juncao expert, has worked in Rwanda for the past six years, helping introduce this innovative technology to local farmers. Juncao, a hybrid grass developed in China, is used for mushroom cultivation and has become a new source of income for thousands of Rwandan families. More than 35,000 farmers have received training in mushroom farming, which has significantly improved their livelihoods. Local farmers now refer to Juncao as the “grass of wealth” and the “grass of happiness,” underscoring its impact on local communities.
A Rwandan scholar in China: An aspiration for agricultural innovation
While Chinese experts are transforming agriculture in Rwanda, Rwandan doctoral student Gatera is pursuing his own agricultural dreams in China. Inspired by the late Yuan Longping, known as the “father of hybrid rice,” Gatera is studying at Anhui Agricultural University in eastern China, where he is focusing on developing heat-resistant varieties of corn and other essential crops. Gatera’s goal is to address the food challenges his country faces, where outdated crop varieties and poor farming practices have hindered agricultural productivity.
Working in experimental fields in China, Gatera hopes to bring the advanced techniques he is learning back to Rwanda. His long-term ambition is to establish an agricultural research institute in his homeland, where he can develop high-yield crop varieties and train the next generation of agricultural professionals. “I want to make crops more affordable and accessible to every Rwandan, just like Yuan Longping did for China,” Gatera says, determined to help Rwanda achieve food security.
Farming, trade and technology: The fruits of China-Rwanda cooperation
The China-Rwanda agricultural partnership is a cornerstone of their broader relationship. Chinese companies have invested in multiple irrigation and water management projects in Rwanda, converting arid lands into fertile fields. These efforts, combined with the expertise of specialists like Zheng and Chen, have helped Rwanda significantly boost its agricultural productivity.
Beyond agriculture, China’s collaboration with Rwanda extends to trade and technology. The World Electronic Trade Platform (eWTP), co-built by Alibaba and Rwanda, has given Rwandan farmers direct access to global markets. In a notable example, Rwanda’s ambassador to China helped sell 3,000 kilograms of Rwandan coffee in under a minute during a live-streamed e-commerce event. Such initiatives are helping small-scale Rwandan farmers access new revenue streams while strengthening the country’s agricultural exports.
Additionally, China signed an updated e-commerce cooperation agreement with Rwanda this year, allowing 20 small- and medium-sized enterprises to join Alibaba’s international platform. These efforts are enhancing Rwanda’s digital transformation and improving its position in the global market.
Rwanda’s path forward: Kagame’s vision for a prosperous future
Rwanda’s development achievements have often been called the “China-style miracle of Africa,” earning praise from the United Nations and the World Bank. Under President Kagame’s leadership, who was recently reelected after securing 99.18 percent of the votes, Rwanda has steadily advanced its goals of food security and economic growth. Kagame, sometimes referred to as the “Lee Kuan Yew of Africa,” has forged a deep friendship with Chinese leaders over the years. His reforms have not only transformed Rwanda into one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies but have also established it as a model for sustainable development.
Speaking of the relationship with China, Kagame remarked, “China is our closest friend and our most reliable partner. We are grateful for China’s support and assistance, and we are willing to work with China to advance the Belt and Road Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
As Rwanda continues to develop its agricultural sector and diversify its economy, the partnership with China offers a blueprint for success, not only for Rwanda but also for the broader East African and African region as a whole. With continued cooperation, Rwanda’s vision for a prosperous future – marked by agricultural innovation, economic growth, and digital transformation – seems increasingly within reach.