In his reply dated Sept. 12, Xi said he hopes that the spirit of Flying Tigers will be carried on from generation to generation among Chinese and American peoples.
“I was heartened by the great enthusiasm of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and the veterans of Flying Tigers in letting more Chinese and Americans know about the stories of the Flying Tigers over the years. Inspired by this, more and more young Americans have joined the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program, and nearly 500 Flying Tigers veterans and several hundred of their family members have visited China. I wish to pay tribute to you for all this,” Xi said.
“In the past, our two peoples fought the Japanese fascists together, and forged a deep friendship that withstood the test of blood and fire,” Xi said. “In the future, the two major countries shoulder even more important responsibility for world peace, stability and development.”
“We therefore should, and we must, respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation,” he said.
Noting that “in growing China-U.S. relations, the hope lies in the people, the foundation lies among the people, and the future lies with the youth,” Xi said that “a sound and steady development of the relationship in the new era requires the input and support of a new generation of Flying Tigers.”
Founded in 1998, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation is an American civil friendship group aimed at promoting the study and commemoration of China-U.S. historical aviation events.
Recently, Greene, Moyer and McMullen jointly wrote a letter to Xi, in which they introduced the efforts of the foundation and Flying Tigers veterans in helping promote China-U.S. friendly exchanges, and expressed their willingness to inherit and carry forward the precious spirit of China-U.S. cooperation.
The delegation led by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Mr DE. Egbeji, is in Rwanda for a study tour from 17 to 24 September 2023.
The course participants are drawn from different agencies in Nigeria and African countries including Tchad, Niger, Gambia and Rwanda.
At RDF Headquarters, they were received by the RDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff. He briefed them on the theme of the course ” Globalization and Regional Economic Integration: Implications for Sustainable Development in Africa”.
While talking to the Media after the briefing, Mr DE Egbeji emphasised that the participants came to interact and share knowledge and experience on Economic Integration and its implications on sustainable development in Africa.
“We need to find out what Rwanda is doing differently that we can learn and what Rwanda can learn from Nigeria,” he said.
The inscription of Nyungwe National Park serves as a vital step in ensuring its long-term conservation, preserving its natural heritage for future generations, and promoting sustainable development for neighbouring communities.
Established as a natural reserve in 1933, the forest became a national park in 2005 in a bid by the government to bolster its protection and safeguard the thousands of endangered and endemic species it harbours.
Covering an expanse of 101,900 hectares, Nyungwe National Park stands as the largest block of natural forest in the region. Boasting remarkable biodiversity, it is home to over a dozen species of primates, 322 bird species, 200 identified orchids, and nearly 300 butterfly species, including several endemic to the park.
The management of the park falls under the hands of the African Parks Network, a non-governmental organisation specialising in conservation, in partnership with the Rwandan Government.
Speaking after the inscription, Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement who was representing the Government of Rwanda, welcomed the development highlighting that it is not only a contribution to the preservation of Rwanda’s natural heritage, but also of particular significance to the Rwandan people, ‘for whom it is the first site inscribed on this universal list’.
The inscription of Nyungwe National Park into the UNESCO World Heritage list follows the inclusion of Gishwati-Mukura National Park in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2020.
This recognition builds upon the long-established presence of the Volcanoes Biosphere Reserve in northwest Rwanda, which has been a part of the network since 1983.
Together, these designations underscore Rwanda’s commitment to conserving its natural heritage and contributing to global conservation efforts.
In March this year, the Chinese-built Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station, about 90 km south of Lusaka, was put into operation, generating stable electricity that powers the lives of local residents.
Not just Sindolo’s salon thrived; new shops sprang up all over the town, a sign of vibrant economic activity stimulated by the hydropower plant.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who officially commissioned the plant, said the completion of the project was not only good for the country’s energy sector but for the economy as a whole as energy is critical to drive an economy.
He said the project showed the friendly relationship between the two countries, and his government is committed to further growing the relationship with China.
Last week, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Hichilema paid a state visit to China. The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, opening a new chapter in their traditional friendly ties.
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China and Zambia share an enduring, traditional friendship, which was forged by the leaders of the two countries of past generations. Early in the 1960s, the Chinese people firmly supported the Zambian people in pursuing national independence. Zambia was the first country in southern Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China.
For more than half a century, however the international landscape evolves, both sides stay committed to deepening friendship and cooperation, making China and Zambia “all-weather friends,” as well as an exemplar of China-Africa friendship.
In the 1970s, at the request of Tanzania and Zambia, China and Africa jointly built the Tanzanian Railway, known as the Road of Friendship and the Road of Freedom, on the vast African grassland. Some engineers and workers even gave their lives.
In 2022, the TAZARA Memorial Park officially opened in Lusaka. In the center of the Memorial Park stands a towering monument inscribed with the words “The Chinese Martyrs Who Aided to Zambia Will Be Immortalized Forever.” Rows of tombstones are finely engraved with the names of the dead.
“We remember our fallen heroes,” said Hichilema at the opening ceremony, who laid a wreath in tribute to the Chinese personnel who sacrificed their lives for the construction of the TAZARA Railway and other projects.
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The Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station is a striking testimony to close cooperation between China and Zambia to improve local livelihoods. In recent years, China and Zambia have carried out all-round cooperation in a wide range of fields, at various levels and in a practical and innovative manner within the framework of the “Belt and Road” and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
China and Zambia have jointly built a new modern terminal at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and the new Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, equipping Zambia with new aviation hubs; Chinese-built state-of-the-art milling plants have improved the supply of food and stabilized food prices for Zambian people; the Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project has been successfully delivered to ensure that about 500,000 people in the Zambian capital have access to clean and safe water.
In 2022, China and Zambia signed protocols on the export of stevia and soybean meal to China, and the zero-tariff treatment granted by China to Zambia for 98 percent of the taxable export products exported to China came into full effect. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume between China and Zambia reached 6.73 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 30.2 percent, which is an all-time high.
During last week’s visit to China, Hichilema highly praised the guiding philosophy and principles of Chinese modernization and expressed the hope to learn from China’s development experience.
For his part, Xi said during their talks that the success of Chinese modernization shows the diversity of modernization models in the world, and China’s high-quality development and modernization process will continue to bring new opportunities to all countries including Zambia.
Among the Party and state leaders attending the event was President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Over the years, Xi has placed particular care and attention on this group of people, inspiring many individuals with disabilities to chase their dreams. Among them is Huang Daoliang from Minqing County in east China’s Fujian Province.
At the age of nine, Huang had both of his arms amputated after accidentally touching a high-voltage wire. The accident did not stop him from pursuing his dream of attending college.
In 1988 and 1989, Huang failed the national college entrance exam twice, despite achieving decent scores. He thought his failures were possibly due to his physical condition.
In 1990, Huang sat the national college entrance exam once again. In that year, Xi took up the position of Party chief of Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian Province, as well as principal of Minjiang Polytechnic College (now known as Minjiang University).
Upon learning of Huang’s story, Xi made the decision to admit him through exceptional enrollment, making Huang the first “armless student” in the college and in the entire province.
“For me, it was indeed a new lease of life,” Huang recalled. The 53-year-old man has dedicated his career to the local disabled persons’ federation in Minqing since graduation, driven by a deep sense of gratitude.
Wang Yani, with a hearing impairment, has drawn strength from her interactions with Xi as she aspired to become a teacher.
During an inspection in Hohhot, capital city of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2014, Xi visited a welfare home for children where Wang lived.
Visiting Wang’s room, Xi looked through some of her albums and sign language books. Xi smiled as he learned some gestures in sign language from Wang.
Upon leaving, Xi encouraged Wang to study hard and pursue excellence in her school years.
Wang expressed her gratitude by bending a thumb, which means “Thank you” in Chinese sign language. Xi got the message and continued to encourage her by following her sign language.
In 2019, Wang achieved her dream of becoming a cosmetology teacher at the special education school where she had studied. Before that, she attended a beauty school in Hohhot, where, despite being the only student with disabilities, she overcame all difficulties and challenges to graduate as the top student.
In Tangshan, north China’s Hebei Province, Yang Yufang and his wife Gao Zhihong, both becoming paraplegic after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the city in 1976, are enjoying a content life at a residential care center where they have jobs.
In 2016, when Xi visited the center for the earthquake victims, he talked with the couple and was glad to learn that they had been able to work as much as their strength would permit, blend into society, and live independently.
“If people with a sound physical condition can have a brilliant life, people with disabilities can do likewise,” Xi said.
Encouraged by Xi, the couple has tried their best to assist those around them. They have supported impoverished students by making crafts for charity sales over the years.
There are numerous moments like the aforementioned, and the millions of people with disabilities in China don’t have to meet Xi in person to benefit from the country’s commitment to ensuring that disabled people have a brilliant life.
In recent years, China has taken concrete steps to expand educational and job opportunities for people with disabilities, allowing them to realize their goals and share the benefits of national prosperity.
To date, more than 90 laws and over 50 administrative regulations directly involving the protection of disabled people’s rights and interests have been formulated and enforced in China, including the country’s first specific law on building a barrier-free environment.
In June, Xi signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which took effect on Sept. 1. This marks a significant stride toward enabling people with disabilities in China to more easily participate in and integrate into all aspects of social life on an equal footing.
This revelation was made during a three-day conference organized by RIBA, which concluded on September 16, 2023, in Musanze District. The conference successfully convened stakeholders from the insurance sector in Rwanda and the region to deliberate on ways to instill a culture of insurance subscription.
Despite witnessing substantial growth in the Rwandan insurance market over the past 15 years, the sector’s current value has reached Rwf120 billion, up from Rwf50 billion in 2006. Nevertheless, the insurance penetration rate remains at a meager 1.9%, adversely impacting the insurance brokerage profession, which boasts only 15 members from Rwanda out of 400 in East Africa.
RIBA’s Chairman, Mubiligi Jean Pierre, attributes this lackluster growth to a scarcity of industry experts and a lack of understanding among Rwandans regarding the benefits of accessing insurance services through brokers.
According to Mubiligi, the key to boosting broker numbers lies in educating Rwandans about their crucial role, which, in turn, will lead to increased demand for their services.
He stated, “The increase of brokers comes from people who feel they can do the work. There is not much potential, and they are discouraged because Rwandans do not understand their importance.”
To address this issue, insurance companies and brokers have embarked on a campaign to educate the public about the importance of insurance services and the role brokers play in facilitating access.
Mukundwa Dianah, the CEO of SONARWA, emphasizes that increasing insurance penetration among Rwandans requires collaboration with various institutions, including educational establishments like the College of Business and Economics at the University of Rwanda. She emphasizes the importance of inspiring students to pursue careers in the insurance sector.
Furthermore, there is a pressing need to bring in new talent to replace experienced professionals who are leaving, leaving behind junior brokers. Mukundwa remains optimistic about the transformative potential of young professionals if they are given the opportunity to shine.
Mukundwa also revealed that the Central Bank has granted licenses for sensitization campaigns aimed at encouraging people to seek insurance services.
{{Embracing technology for wider access}}
Alexio Mayonde, Chief Information Officer at ZEPRE Reinsurance Company, points out that the inadequate integration of technology is a significant obstacle to universal access to insurance services. He observes that while insurance companies are leaders among financial institutions globally, this is not the case in Africa and Rwanda.
Mayonde stresses that banks have surged ahead because they have effectively integrated technology into their services, while the insurance sector still relies on traditional methods involving physical document exchanges. He advocates for a technology-driven approach to reach clients in remote areas, a vital strategy for increasing Rwanda’s insurance penetration rate from its current 1.9%.
Moses Mukundi, CEO of Eden Care Insurance Company, highlights their commitment to harnessing technology, with their services now fully integrated with technology. This approach ensures that their services are accessible to a wider audience, facilitated by their partnerships with insurance brokers who establish close relationships with clients, making marketing activities more effective.
Mukundi underscores the importance of insurance companies and brokers adopting technology to efficiently serve a larger client base.
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Cleophas Obiero, Managing Director of Smart Applications International Rwanda Ltd, emphasizes the importance of collaboration within the insurance sector to streamline service delivery. Recognizing that unity can lead to more efficient operations and enhanced customer experiences, he urges stakeholders to work together.
Figures from the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) indicate a positive trajectory for the insurance sector, with the value of total assets increasing by 17% to reach Rwf824 billion in December 2022, up from Rwf701 billion in December 2021. Notably, motor and medical insurance constitute the largest share of the insurance sector, comprising 63% of its activities.
As a result, African leaders have been working hard to reduce these effects by 2030, in accordance with the Paris Accord, and to achieve net zero by 2050.
Rwanda, for example, presents a vision of becoming a developed climate-resilient, low-carbon economy by 2050 through its national policy for climate change and low-carbon development.
The strategy’s three main goals are to achieve energy security and low-carbon energy supply, sustainable land use, water resource management, and social protection, enhanced health, and disaster risk reduction, which minimizes vulnerability to climate change.
To help the government meet this goal, construction firms like Ultimate Developers Limited (UDL) have joined the fight through ‘Green housing’ projects.
“Green housing,” according to UDL, is an approach to building that prioritizes the reduction of harmful effects on both human health and the environment.
UDL has embarked on a bigger and better Phase II of its real estate development project, inspired by Rwanda’s Vision 2050 Urbanization and Agglomeration pillar, after successfully completing Phase I of Kigali’s high-end residences, Vision City, located in Gacuriro Cell in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District.
Vision City Phase II comprises 1,487 residential dwelling units with smart, green, and wellness characteristics, about three times the size of Vision City Phase I, carefully arranged into various areas to promote efficiency and ensure a methodical approach.
According to Claudette Rubangura, Head of Commercial Operations at Ultimate Developers Ltd, this concept centers around the idea of creating sustainable and eco-friendly residential properties while supporting the well-being of their occupants.
“We are actively preparing to begin the first section as a critical step toward moving the entire project forward in a timely manner.
The project phase will use an off-plan sales strategy, which means that units within the project will be offered for sale prior to completion, subject to market demand and validation,” she explained.
In addition, the concept emphasizes the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels or photovoltaic systems. These sources contribute to the creation of clean and sustainable energy, hence reducing the community’s environmental footprint.
Vision City Phase II will incorporate rainwater conservation features ranging from rainwater harvesting materials to water-efficient landscaping.
Additionally, implementing energy efficiency solutions such as LED lighting, smart thermostats, and smart energy-efficient appliances will be fitted in all rooms.
According to UDL management, homes under this phase will address environmental concerns through various measures that focus on indoor lighting, indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity control, and creating a conducive sleeping environment.
Vision City Phase II home building materials are expected to be sourced from green certified, carbon-neutral certified manufacturers. Developers intend to take heed of materials that are less harmful to the environment, such as reducing energy consumption and waste.
Among others, Vision City homes are situated in a well-gazetted environment. They incorporate landscaping, low-flow plumbing, limited emissions, and are supplied with natural gas as a cleaner energy source.
Vision City Phase II homes also prioritize well-being, comfort, and environmental sustainability.
This will be achieved through energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and insulation to minimize energy consumption.
Renewable energy sources such as solar panels are utilized to power the homes, resulting in lower utility costs.
Besides, natural light and airflow are also integrated into the design to enhance the living experience.
Beyond being a green housing project, Vision City Phase II is intended to improve the overall quality of life for its residents by including retail units, a Community Center, a school, a kindergarten, a recreation center, and even a hotel.
Wellness and health have also been prioritized in the project, including fitness and wellness centers and green spaces to promote physical exercise, relaxation, and a healthy lifestyle.
The whole project phase encompasses 40.7 hectares of land, with units ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom opulent executive villas priced to match the residences’ worth and characteristics.
“Our goal is to strike a balance that ensures a fair and competitive pricing strategy that will contribute to the project’s success,” Rubangura explained.
UDL is a private real estate company that is leading the way in transforming the property business in Rwanda. The company was founded in 2011 on the premise that “a single developer with grand ambitions, a clear vision, and a well-coordinated strategy can change the trajectory of an industry and the market’s belief of what is possible.”
The company was founded with the goal of providing modern housing alternatives in Kigali City in the medium and long term, while also contributing to Rwanda’s Vision 2050 through the implementation of the city master plan.
UDL projects are the creation of top professionals who are committed to developing unique answers to clients’ desires for well-planned, modern residential and commercial real estate.
The project will be completed in four phases, totaling approximately 4,500 dwelling units spread across 150 hectares of land.
Its first phase (Vision City Phase I), which included 504 dwelling units ranging from 2-bedroom apartments to 5-bedroom deluxe villas, was finished in 2018 and is now sold out with a 100% occupancy rate.
The suspects aged 28 and 23, were intercepted at about 04a.m, in Rugobagoba village, Kigembe cell of Gacurabwenge with a bag containing the stolen money.
The money was reported stolen the previous evening from a construction site in Kigembe cell, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Emmanuel Habiyaremye, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region.
“The victim withdrew money from the bank earlier on Saturday, September 16, to pay casual workers, who were constructing his house in Kigembe cell.
The search for the suspects was immediately commenced after the victim reported the alleged theft, until they were arrested the following morning on Sunday at about 04a.m, with the money,” SP Habiyaremye said.
The suspects were at the time fleeing with the money. They were handed over to RIB at Gacurabwenge station for further investigations.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or the theft is carried out by more than one (1) person.
However, it’s crucial to scrutinize the credibility of these allegations, many of which are rooted in events that transpired over 25 years ago during the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
As of the most recent data from the Human Rights Commission, prison overcrowding in Rwanda currently stands at a rate of 124%. But can this overcrowding genuinely be linked to such gruesome acts of cannibalism?
It’s important to note that there is no concrete evidence to substantiate these rumors.
In fact, this is not the first time such claims have surfaced. Back in 2015, the Indian newspaper “Zeenews” reported on similar allegations, followed by coverage in various smaller media outlets.
These rumors reemerged in 2022, this time in the British newspaper ‘The Mirror’, and subsequently picked up by other publications like the ‘Daily Star’.
Muhanga Prison has the capacity of 3,063 detainees but currently houses 6,441 inmates, leading to an estimated overcrowding rate of 227.5%.
Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), the national body responsible for prisons, firmly maintains that there have been no reported cases of cannibalism in the country’s prison facilities.
To provide a more accurate picture of the situation, IGIHE has gathered testimonies from former Rwandan officials who unequivocally refute the notion of cannibalism at Muhanga Prison in the context of prison overcrowding.
Pierre Célestin Rwigema, a former Prime Minister from 1995 and the current representative of Rwanda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), emphasizes that no such incidents occurred during his tenure.
He underscores that cannibalism is entirely incompatible with the cultural values of the Rwandan people.
Sheikh Abdul Karim Harelimana, who served as the Interior Minister in 1996 with oversight of all prisons in Rwanda, corroborates that while prison overcrowding was indeed a reality, hunger never compelled prisoners to resort to cannibalism.
“Prison overcrowding did exist, it is true, but no prisoner has ever eaten another,” he assured IGIHE.
The Rwandan government is actively addressing the issue of prison overcrowding by constructing new facilities, providing alternative sentences, and employing electronic bracelet technology to monitor criminals instead of resorting to incarceration.
These measures demonstrate the commitment to safeguarding human rights and dispelling the baseless rumors that have circulated about Muhanga Prison.
Kagame made these remarks during the SDG Digital Day on September 17, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York while commending the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for hosting the AI for Good Global Summit earlier this year.
“To cross the finish line and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to leverage the power of this technology. We have to keep in mind that it must work for us, not against us,” he said.
“We will need a collective and coordinated approach to AI governance frameworks, which protect everyone, everywhere,” Kagame added.
The SDG Digital Day was part of the SDG weekend convened by the Secretary-General to “generate opportunities for stakeholders, UN entities, and member states to set out commitments and contributions to drive SDG transformation.”
The SDG weekend was organized ahead of the SDG Summit, which coincided with the 2023 SDG Summit hosted by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the midpoint on the road to 2030.
According to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the latest SDG report indicates that without ‘accurate data,’ even well-intentioned programs and initiatives are working in the dark.
The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to provide a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
Kagame further highlighted Rwanda’s support for ITU’s call to the public and private sectors to increase their pledges for the ‘Partner2Connect’ Digital coalition to one hundred billion dollars by 2026.
“In Rwanda, through the GIGA initiative, spearheaded by ITU and UNICEF [United Nations International Children’s Fund], we are seeing firsthand the value of partnership. The pilot project in 63 schools has made connectivity faster and cheaper,” he remarked.
“Africa is blessed to have a young and vibrant population which is passionate about entrepreneurship and self-improvement; hence, the digital divide should not stifle their creativity and productivity,” added Kagame.
‘Partner 2Connect’ is a coalition led by ITU to raise funding through bold partnerships for meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation by 2026. To date, 30 billion has been raised, with almost half of it allocated to enhancing digital connectivity in least-developed countries.
“How can we expect people to leverage technology for healthcare, innovation, education, or employment if they cannot afford a digital device or service, lack the required digital skills, do not find the content useful, or do not feel safe online?” wondered Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General.
