On 2 August 2019, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda from Beijing and surrounding areas celebrated the National Harvest Day (Umuganura) at the Yanqing District, Beijing International Horticulture exhibition premises. Among attendants of the festival were diplomats from several African countries in Beijing and students from Beijing Huairou and Beijing Mingyuan Experimental Primary Schools.

Umuganura also called the National Harvest Day or Thanksgiving Day is the traditional feast celebrating the first harvest of the year, and a platform to assess the harvest and finding ways of increasing harvest for the coming year.

Under the theme, ‘Umuganura, the source and foundation of unity and self-reliance’, attracted guests from different Chinese institutions, associations and investors.

During the celebration, Rwanda’s outgoing Ambassador to China, Charles Kayonga noted that, Umuganura has gained a broader meaning; it has become a national festival to celebrate the country’s achievements in line with its vision for a more united peaceful and prosperous future.

Reiterating Rwanda’s achievements, Ambassador Kayonga said that, Rwanda is one of the best places to do business because of infrastructure development, easing business registration process as well as embracing the culture of honesty and transparency.

The envoy further said that, Rwanda’s achievements in last twenty five years after 1994 Genocide is attributed to the unity and good leadership of Rwanda led by President Paul Kagame, adding that Rwanda leadership has put the people at the center of the development effort.

The event featured cultural performances for both Rwandans and Chinese as part of enhancing culture experiences between communities, food sharing, as well as showcasing Rwandan products. According to Ambassador Kayonga, Umuganura is also an opportunity to broaden people-to-people exchanges through cultural exchanges and food sharing.

Mr. Wang Chunfeng, Deputy Commissioner General of the 2019 Beijing Expo applauded Rwanda’s transformation in recent years stating in his speech that “the unremitting efforts of the brave and hard-working Rwandan people, has made Rwanda a vibrant land on the African continent”.

Mr. Wang thanked Rwanda’s participation in the 2019 Beijing International Expo, saying that such a spirit will enhance the countries’ friendship.

Wang noted that Beijing Expo has also seen as an important step in promoting the exchange of the latest achievements of green development in various countries towards promoting international economic and trade exchange, as well as the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the celebration, guests visited Rwanda Pavilion at the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Expo where they were treated to a test of Rwanda coffee and ate fresh maize, a staple food for Rwandans.

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