Reference News Network, August 11 report: On August 8, Rwanda's "New Era" newspaper website published an article by the country's career diplomat Guillaume Kawaluganda titled "Reflections on My Trip to China," as translated below:

On July 10, 2025, I arrived in Fujian via Shanghai, holding a regular passport rather than a diplomatic one, which allowed me to experience the treatment of an ordinary traveler at Chinese border control. I felt polite and efficient service, and the officer who handled my procedures had high professional standards. I did not feel any differential treatment due to the type of passport.

These initial interactions left a deep impression on me. The main purpose of my trip to China was to attend a seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative. I am a Rwandan diplomat currently on leave.

During my visit, I increasingly admired China's leadership continuity. Each generation of leaders has contributed to promoting peace and development, social harmony, and environmental protection in their respective eras.

Under President Xi Jinping, China has accelerated the construction of green infrastructure, expanded ecological protection areas, and always adhered to a people-centered development philosophy. One can clearly sense the continuity of this vision: Mao Zedong laid the ideological foundation; Deng Xiaoping, while upholding revolutionary spirit, implemented market-oriented reforms; and President Xi has actively promoted the vision of common prosperity, prioritizing environmental quality, national unity, and international cooperation.

We took a train from Fuzhou to Hangzhou, visited the picturesque West Lake, which is a model of harmonious coexistence between environmental protection, tourism, and technological innovation.

Subsequently, we stayed in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, for three days. Ningbo is a vibrant port city that perfectly blends modern trade infrastructure with rich cultural heritage.

In China, tea is not just a drink but also a cultural tradition that embodies harmony, focus, and community spirit. In Fuzhou, I participated in a traditional tea tasting ceremony: the host patiently guided us through each step, explaining the importance of water temperature, tea quality, and the spirit of sharing. Although I have always been a coffee lover, this experience sparked a great interest in the world of tea.

From the Mao era, to Deng Xiaoping's reforms, and then to the new era of Xi Jinping, China's economic transformation over 40 years has lifted nearly 800 million people out of absolute poverty.

This number accounts for more than 70% of the global poverty reduction during the same period. By 2020, China officially announced the elimination of absolute poverty, an extraordinary achievement that has set a strong example for developing countries, especially African nations.

The Rwandan government is gradually shifting its future economic cooperation focus from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The AIIB was established in Beijing in 2016, and now has 110 members. It focuses on highly sustainable infrastructure projects and has become a trusted multilateral institution.

My trip to China has convinced me that China's development model not only provides funding but also offers practical solutions, unlike traditional Western financial institutions that often come with structural conditions.

Fuzhou faces Taiwan across the sea, and further south is Hong Kong, which deepened my understanding of the One-China principle: national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and cultural identity are the core elements of this principle.

I observed that this principle influences China's domestic governance and lays the foundation for mutual respect and long-term stability in its bilateral relations.

My visit ended on August 1, leaving vivid memories of cities, landscapes, and exchanges, but more importantly, deep respect for a civilizational path that integrates ancient collectivism with modern infrastructure and global leadership.

Although English is not widely spoken, I felt the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people. They often used mobile translation software to communicate with us and were always ready to help with kindness and smiles.

On my return journey, I passed through Shanghai customs again and received the same respect and professional service as when I entered. (Translated by Guo Jun)

August 3, tourists visiting the Jixian Pavilion at West Lake in Hangzhou. (Xinhua)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7537131809084359214/

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