The figures were disclosed on Tuesday during a media briefing by China’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Gao Wenqi, who highlighted a steady rise in mobility between the two nations as cooperation deepens across multiple sectors.
According to the ambassador, more than 3,500 Rwandans visited China in 2023, while the number increased to around 7,000 in 2025, reflecting what he described as “remarkable growth” in people-to-people exchanges.
He attributed the surge largely to visa facilitation measures introduced by the Chinese Embassy in Kigali and broader efforts to strengthen bilateral engagement with Rwanda.
“Visa facilitation policies have encouraged an increasing number of Rwandans to visit China for business, studies, tourism, etc. As far as we know, in 2023, more than 3500 Rwandans visited China, in 2025, the number increased to around 7000, the growth rate nearly doubled,” Amb. Gao said.
He explained that recent reforms have made travel more accessible, including the rollout of an online visa application system, which reduces the need for multiple embassy visits.
Additional measures include the temporary exemption of fingerprint collection for short-term visa applicants and a 25% reduction in visa fees, both extended through 2026.
Beyond mobility figures, the ambassador situates the trend within a broader framework of strengthening China-Rwanda relations, particularly in education, trade, and cultural exchange.
He noted that increased travel is also linked to rising opportunities for Rwandan students, businesspeople, and professionals in China.
The envoy further highlighted that China’s ongoing economic planning under its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) is expected to deepen international cooperation, including with African countries, by expanding market access, industrial collaboration, and innovation-driven development.
Amb.Gao also pointed to growing China-Africa engagement under existing frameworks, saying such initiatives continue to create “new opportunities for practical cooperation” between Beijing and Kigali.
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