A reception in honor of Captain Li Dayi was hosted on the evening of Tuesday, 20th February 2024, within the premises of the Chinese Embassy in Kigali.

During the ceremony, which was also attended by other Defence Attachés accredited to Rwanda, Captain Li Dayi articulated his readiness to employ his extensive military experience to further strengthen the already robust relations between the two nations.

“In recent years, cooperation between China and Rwanda in various fields has been fruitful. As an important part of bilateral relations, the Chinese and Rwandan military relations have maintained a sound development momentum in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit, thus enhancing strategic mutual trust.

I am ready to do my utmost to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries to a new level in the future, and to help the Sino-Rwandan friendship and cooperative partnership achieve new results,” he said.

Captain Li Dayi emphasized that China prioritizes global peace, a goal he is committed to pursuing continuously.

“Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have always pursued a defensive national defence policy, have never initiated any war or conflict, and are the only nuclear-weapon state that has undertaken not to be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones,” he noted.

Maj Gen John Baptist Ngiruwonsanga, the Commandant of the RDF General Headquarters, speaking on behalf of the Rwanda Defence Forces’ leadership at the event, noted the productive military collaboration between Rwanda and China.

He highlighted that this partnership has been beneficial, with the Chinese military offering diverse training programs to RDF personnel across various disciplines since 2017.

Maj Gen Ngiruwonsanga stated that over 300 RDF personnel, encompassing senior officers, have undergone military training in China.

In the academic year of 2023/2024, China extended training opportunities to 28 individuals in a variety of disciplines.

Presently, 15 RDF personnel are enrolled in military schools in China, with an additional nine slated to begin their training in March 2024.

Furthermore, the Chinese Ministry of Defense offers training in military parades to Rwandan soldiers.

Maj Gen Ngiruwonsanga underscored the significance of appointing a Defence Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda as a major milestone in enhancing the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

He also stressed the importance of military cooperation, particularly in an era when global security challenges are prevalent.

“We believe that no single country can confront contemporary security challenges alone. It is paramount for us to build trust with each other through defence diplomacy and collectively contribute to global security,” Maj Gen Ngiruwonsanga said.

Maj Ngiruwonsanga welcomed Captain Li, assuring him of cooperation on behalf of the Rwandan military.

“I wish all the best to the new Chinese Defence Attache. Defence cooperation is and will continue to be an essential tool for creating peace and stability. Our region is faced with challenges. However, we firmly believe that we can overcome them through cooperation,” he noted.

The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xuekun, remarked that Li’s extensive experience will contribute significantly to the already solid relationship between the two countries.

Li has spent a significant amount of time in the Chinese military, working for the Ministry of Defence of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and in the naval forces. He also served as the Deputy Defence Attaché at the Chinese embassy in Liberia and in Italy.

“Having worked in grass-roots troops for years, he mastered profound military knowledge. The working experience in the PLA headquarters has given him visions and insights on global and regional issues. Upon arrival in Kigali, he devoted himself to the work and established contact with officials from RDF and colleagues of the Defence attaché corps, which showcased his professionalism and competence,” Amb. Wang Xuekun said.

“The establishment of China’s Defence Attaché Office in Rwanda is a landmark event in China-Rwanda relations, which reflects that the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries is advancing to a new level,” he added.

The longstanding relations between Rwanda and China span 75 years, marked by substantial cooperation between the two nations. China stands as one of the primary sources of Rwanda’s imports, underlining the depth of both countries’ economic ties.

Captain Li Dayi emphasized that China prioritizes global peace, a goal he is committed to pursuing continuously.

Maj Gen Ngiruwonsanga underscored the significance of appointing a Defence Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda as a major milestone in enhancing the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

Maj Ngiruwonsanga welcomed Captain Li, assuring him of cooperation on behalf of the Rwandan military.

A reception in honor of Captain Li Dayi was hosted on the evening of Tuesday, 20th February 2024, within the premises of the Chinese Embassy in Kigali.

The ceremony was attended by other Defence Attachés accredited to Rwanda.