As an ancient poem goes, As spring flourishes, so does the soul; In harmony with spring, humans find their role. On the auspicious day of the beginning of spring, February 4, a delegation of 13 people from the Republic of Rwanda visited Jinhua Polytechnic and met with President Liang Kedong for discussions and exchanges. The delegation included Wellars Gasamagera, Secretary General of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Gaspard Twagirayezu, Member of the National Executive Committee on Foreign Affairs of RPF and Minister of Education of Rwanda, and James Kimonyo, Ambassador of Rwanda to China. They were accompanied by Liang Anping, Deputy Director of the Fourth Bureau of International Department, Central Committee of CPC, Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government, Ruan Ganghui, Vice Mayor of Jinhua City and other leaders at provincial and municipal levels. Vice President Chen Hairong presided over a symposium.
During the symposium, President Liang Kedong extended a warm welcome to Secretary General Gasamagera and the delegation on behalf of Jinhua Polytechnic. He briefly introduced the university and relevant work in international education. He also mentioned Jinhua Polytechnic's efforts in promoting cooperation in production capacity between China and Rwanda and exchanges between their peoples. The two sides have cooperated for 10 years since the first batch of students from the training course commissioned by the Government of Rwanda was sent to Jinhua Polytechnic in 2014. He expressed his hope for closer ties between Jinhua Polytechnic and Rwanda in the next decade to pursue common development and foster more fruitful outcomes in developing Musanze International College. Both sides would cooperate for mutual benefits within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, further enhance the friendly relations between China and Rwanda, and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future.
Secretary General Gasamagera expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception of Jinhua Polytechnic and the current cooperation between the university and Rwanda. He also anticipated their future collaborations. Minister Twagirayezu highlighted Rwanda's strong emphasis on vocational education and the bright prospects for collaboration with the university in this area. He acknowledged the fruitful cooperation between the university and the Government of Rwanda over the past decade and looked forward to further cooperation in faculty training and nurturing application-oriented talents. There is no doubt that after Jinhua Polytechnic offers vocational undergraduate programs, the two sides will write an even more magnificent chapter for vocational education cooperation!
Zhu Mochi, a teacher representative from Musanze International College shared his experiences working and living in Rwanda, expressing confidence in the collaboration in vocational education between China and Rwanda to support the development of technical talents in Rwanda. Chen Hao, a student representative from the training course commissioned by the Government of Rwanda and President of the Rwandan Alumni Association, thanked Jinhua Polytechnic for their support and pledged to be an envoy of friendship between China and Rwanda.
To mark the Year of the Dragon, President Liang Kedong presented Secretary General Gasamagera with a traditional Chinese dragon-themed decorative plate, wishing Rwanda a prosperous year in 2024. The present symbolized good fortune, harmony, and unity.
Secretary General Gasamagera wrote a message of appreciation, Thank you Jinhua Polytechnic for the excellent work and keep up friendships with Rwanda and Musanze Polytechnic. Happy New Year of the Dragon. He praised the fruitful cooperation between the university and Rwanda and wished for enduring friendship and a happy new year.
Following the symposium, Secretary General Gasamagera and his delegation visited the exhibition on Chinese-Rwandan Vocational Education Cooperation and Exchanges at the university to see their achievements within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Upon arrival at the university, Secretary General Gasamagera was presented with a scarf by a student representative from the training course commissioned by the Government of Rwanda. He also enjoyed a lively welcome performance prepared by the Jinhua Polytechnic's dragon and lion dance team. At the School History Museum, Secretary General Gasamagera listened attentively to the university's development and history of cooperation with Rwanda in vocational education, and he highly praised the documentary Rwandan Students in Jinhua.