The Head of State was speaking on a panel co-hosted by the Doha Forum and the Center for China and Globalization, on 'China's Role in a Rising Global South: Redefining the Future World Order', discussing the impact of deepening ties between the global south and China.
Kagame highlighted the long-standing historical relationship between China and Africa, noting that it predates the independence of many African nations.
He emphasized that China's involvement in Africa has evolved, particularly in terms of trade and investment, which now hold significant value with tangible benefits for countries like Rwanda.
Rwanda's exports to China grew from $39 million in 2018 to $131.2 million in 2023. Over the past five years, China has been Rwanda's largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), further strengthening bilateral trade relations.
The two nations also saw a bilateral trade volume of $550 million in 2023, with China's imports from Rwanda increasing by 86.2% from last year.
China's investments in Rwanda, which exceed $1.2 billion since 2019, span critical sectors like manufacturing, construction, real estate, and mining.
Notably, the upgrade of Masaka District Hospital to an 837-bed facility, which will form part of the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) and construction of Nyabarongo hydropower plant are among infrastructure projects demonstrating China's significant contributions.
While many critics, particularly from Western countries, have raised concerns about Africa falling into a "debt trap" due to Chinese loans, Kagame was firm in defending China's approach.
He attributed the risks associated with debt to governance and management, rather than the nature of the loans themselves.
The President pointed out that African countries must be more diligent in engaging with their partners to ensure that loans are deployed effectively in projects that deliver mutual benefits.
The debt trap narrative, largely pushed by Western critics, often casts China's loans to African nations in a negative light, suggesting that Beijing is deliberately setting up countries for failure.
However, many African leaders argue that the West's history of imposing harsh conditions on aid and trade has left many African countries seeking more reliable and flexible partners.
China's non-interference policy and willingness to engage without imposing restrictive terms has become an attractive alternative for many nations.
According to the China-Africa Research Initiative, as of 2023, African countries owe approximately $160 billion in debt to China, a significant portion of their external debt.
However, these loans are generally linked to infrastructure projects, such as roads, hospitals, and power plants, that have the potential to drive economic growth and improve living standards across the continent.
Kagame also addressed the broader global context in which China's role in Africa is situated.
He spoke of the need for a new, more stable global order that includes the voices and interests of the Global South.
"The purpose of a global order is to have global stability, which we do not have," he stated, emphasizing that true global stability can only be achieved when countries from the Global South work together.
"We need to realize that there is a lot we can do that benefits us in the Global South, but we need to come together."
He noted that cooperation between the Global South and Global North could also be beneficial, but the Global North has often been unwilling to foster such collaboration in a way that feels equitable for all parties.
Kagame acknowledged that global geopolitical competition, in which China plays a significant role, is inevitable.
However, he argued that China's approach to international competition has been more balanced and fair than that of the Global North.
'We don't see anything in history that suggests that China has misused its strength. Rather, we have been benefitting from the cooperation and the attitude of bringing everybody to the table where everyone feels they are winning in the process," he said.
Kagame also stressed the importance of the Global South working together to contribute to global stability.
"We just need to work together and make sure that we are contributing our fair share to this global stability that the world wants," he said.
President Kagame participated in the panel discussion along with other panelists including Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia, Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, Dr. Eduardo Enrique Garcia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, and Dr. Henry Wang, President of the Center for China and Globalization.
Under the banner 'Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity', Doha Forum promotes the interchange of ideas and discourse towards policymaking and action-oriented recommendations.
Théophile Niyitegeka
