Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in Beijing has introduced the Kinyarwanda language course program to Chinese students.

Under cooperation with the University of Rwanda, the Chinese University embraced for the first time the Kinyarwanda language course to Chinese students as the second African language after Kiswahili.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on the evening of 8^th October 2019, the Beijing Foreign Studies University Vice President Professor Jia Wenjian applauded the launch of the Kinyarwanda language to Chinese students.

We are honored to be the first Chinese University to introduce Kinyarwanda language course to Chinese students. This is a true symbolic relationship value that our two countries attaches to each other. Our students will learn and master the Kinyarwanda language, said Prof Jia, the University Vice President.

Reiterating the friendship between China and Rwanda, Mr. Shu Zhan, the former Ambassador of China in Rwanda said that, China and Rwanda shares common vision of development. “When I was Ambassador of China in Rwanda, I witnessed the good common vision and good values of Rwandans for finding homegrown solutions to their problems, this has enabled the country’s development over the past decade,” said Shu Zhan.

The former envoy added that, today’s Rwanda image reflects the hardworking of Rwandan people and their leadership.

Mr. Virgile Rwanyagatare, the Embassy Charge’ d’affaire praised the cooperation between University of Rwanda and Beijing Foreign Studies University that has enabled the start of Kinyarwanda language to Chinese students. This will among others enable people-to-people exchange between Rwandans and Chinese people in future.

 Dr. Patrice Ntawigira, the Kinyarwanda language course instructor from University of Rwanda, commended the Beijing Foreign Studies University move to enroll Kinyarwanda course program among other foreign languages courses at University.

“You have made a good choice; Kinyarwanda language is now used and spoken by about forty (40) million people in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Kinyarwanda is one of the very large families of African Languages, after Kiswahili. It stretches in a great region of Central Africa. With Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili, BFSU will connect all Chinese People to almost all Africans from Sub-Saharan Region, Rwandans included,” Dr. Ntawigira remarked.

Teaching and Learning Kinyarwanda at BFSU could not be better timed than today, when our two countries are celebrating 48 years of good diplomatic relations. Dr. Ntawigira added.

“The introduction of Kinyarwanda course at Chinese University and Chinese course at University of Rwanda under Confucius Institute Centre reflects the good sign of strengthening the long existing good friendship relations between Rwandans and Chinese. The program makes Rwandans and Chinese ‘Brothers and Sisters’ not ‘Friends’,” Ntawigira noted.

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