17 June 2020 - President Kagame on Wednesday joined the Heads of State from across Africa for the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVIDー19 hosted by President Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping and President Macky Sall.

In his address, President Kagame reiterated the strength of the existing bond between Africa and China which also continues to save lives amid COVID19 pandemic. 

"The strength of the bond between Africa and China is clear. The solidarity we have seen during this difficult time has once again demonstrated the productivity of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, whose 20^th anniversary we will mark later this year. The Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese private sector, provided crucial supplies of testing materials and medical equipment in Africa, when it was needed most. This effort has saved lives, and continues to do so" President Kagame said. 

President Kagame also appreciated China’s recent 2 billion dollar funding pledge for Covid response, as well as its support for the G20 debt initiative, adding that China’s continuing support for ensuring adequate fiscal space for African countries during this period of crisis remains important.

The World Health Organisation is central to the fight against Covid-19, President Kagame noted, adding that the resolutions of the World Health Assembly will guide our way forward, in terms of identifying lessons learned for the future.

"Africa’s global position is sustained by harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships with all of our partners around the world." President Kagame added. 

The summit, held via video link, was jointly convened by China, South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU), and Senegal, the co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).  It attracted leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African sub-regional organizations, and the chairperson of the AU Commission. The secretary-general of the United Nations and the director-general of the World Health Organization also attended the meeting as special guest.  

• View photos here
• Read the speech here