The figures were disclosed by Juliana Kangeli Muganza, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), in an exclusive interview with CGTN's Zhang Meng on the sidelines of the 2026 China International Import Expo (CIIE), where she highlighted growing opportunities in tourism alongside expanding trade and investment ties.

“Over the last five years, we have seen Chinese tourism grow by four times, where we had about 3,000 tourists in 2021. And last year, we had about 14,000 tourists,” Muganza said.

The 9th China International Import Expo is taking place from November 5 to November 10, 2026.

Although the numbers remain modest, she said the upward trend was encouraging and expressed Rwanda's interest in welcoming more Chinese travellers.

Muganza highlighted the country's mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park as one of the attractions Chinese visitors should experience, describing it as a bucket-list destination.

“These are creatures that are endangered, and we've been doing a lot to conserve them. It's very promising to see the numbers grow. So, that is definitely something I would call a bucket list item, and we would encourage Chinese tourists to see it,” she said.

She also recommended Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five, which offers safari experiences, and Nyungwe National Park, known for its waterfalls, primates, birdwatching opportunities and canopy walk.

Kigali, she added, offers facilities for business events, culinary experiences and cultural activities, making it another attraction for international visitors.

Beyond tourism, Muganza said Rwanda's participation in the CIIE provides opportunities for local exporters to access the Chinese market.

She described China as a strong partner, noting that Rwanda exported goods worth approximately $160 million to China last year, an increase of 89% compared with the previous year. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at about $1.4 billion.

Rwandan exporters attending the expo are showcasing products including chili peppers, macadamia nuts, coffee and tea.

Cooperation also extends to investment, with Chinese businesses establishing operations in Rwanda in sectors including agro-processing, EV manufacturing, construction and construction materials.

“We have been receiving a lot of investors coming from China, also from platforms such as the CIIE,” Muganza said. “And we have many that have already established in Rwanda.”

Rwanda and China established diplomatic relations in 1971.

People-to-people exchanges have also increased. In April 2016, China's Ambassador to Rwanda, Gao Wenqi, said that the number of Rwandans visiting China rose from more than 3,500 in 2023 to approximately 7,000 in 2025, attributing the growth partly to visa facilitation measures and expanding bilateral exchanges.