Ｖｉｓｉｔ ｔｏ Ｔｈｒｅｅ Ｅａｓｔ Ａｆｒｉｃａｎ Ｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓ

In early December 2008， CPAFFC President Chen Haosu led a delegation to visit Rwanda， a “country of thousands of hills”， Burundi， a “country of drum dance” and Tanzania with ever changing scenery. In a friendly and warm atmosphere the delegation had discussions about work with the relevant organizations of the three countries，enhanced friendship and looked forward to the prospects of cooperation in 2009. This visit permeated with friendly feelings achieved great success.

Revisiting Rwanda

Located in the central eastern part of Africa， Rwanda is a country of high terrain with rolling hills. Endowed with beautiful lakes， green and deep gorges， vast pastureland and high mountains covered with snow all the year round， it enjoys the reputation of “Switzerland in Africa” with unique ecological environment. But the racial genocide in the early 1990s brought utter misery and suffering to over a million people and caused collapse of the country’s economy. After about 20 years’ hard work and with the aid from the international community， the country has regained its vitality and achieved economic growth at a rate of 6 percent. It was under such circumstances that the Rwanda National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) invited the CPAFFC to visit the country and thus we were fortunate to have a chance to come to Rwanda again. At the end of the 1980s， the CPAFFC received officials and experts of the Rwanda’s agricultural departments and Chinese agricultural experts also visited Rwanda. The Chinese and Rwandan agricultural experts conducted exchanges on growing paddy rice.

Time flies and now the CPAFFC has reestablished relations with the relevant Rwandan organizations. The NURC devotes itself to peace and development of humankind， promoting unity and reconciliation in the country and building a peaceful and tolerant environment where human rights are respected. During its stay in Rwanda， the delegation visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and presented flowers to mourn over the deceased. When looking at the horrible scene in the pictures， we were greatly shocked. To promote world peace and friendship and jointly build a harmonious society is our lofty cause. We will as always carry on this cause. The delegation donated money to the museum on the spot and expressed the hope that every Rwandan would remember the past and never let the tragedy be repeated.

Though the CPAFFC delegation revisited Rwanda after about 20 years， it was accorded high courtesy. Bernard Makuza， Rwandan prime minister， Ms. Fatuma Ndangiza， executive secretary of the NURC， and Kabaija Ephrain， governor of East Province， met with the delegation on separate occasions. The Rwandan Prime Minister said， Rwanda and China have maintained friendly and fruitful relations for a long time， and the cooperation between the two countries in the political and economic areas has developed smoothly. After the China-Africa summit， China has increased its aid to African countries， particularly to Rwanda. Though the world financial crisis has also affected China to a certain extent， China is still carrying out its cooperation with African countries. He also pledged that the Rwandan Government would always stick to its one-China stand.

Recollecting China-Burundi Friendship

Burundi， located on the southern side of the equator in the central eastern part of Africa， neighbours Rwanda and is averagely 1，600 metres above sea level. With abundant rainfall and dense forests， it is known as the “Kingdom of Forest”. The people are warm and hospitable and their bold and unrestrained “drum dance” enjoys high reputation in the world. At the reception in honour of the delegation held by the Burundi-China Friendship Association (BCFA)， the members of the delegation were lucky to enjoy the Burundian folk drum dance. All the performers were robust men wearing beaded belts on their heads and arms in the folk costumes of alternating red， white and green， the colour of their national flag. They took turns to perform various dance movements to the rhythm of the drums， sometimes spinning and sometimes making flying leaps. People around them cheered them on with songs. The intense rhythm of the drum dance， like the rumble of thunder rocking the sky and earth， fully demonstrated the Burundian people’s joyous， resolute， bold and uninhibited character. Over a hundred Chinese and foreign guests at the reception were greatly touched.

The BCFA was reorganized in 2007 and its members are mostly government officials， army men and businesspeople who once studied in China. Ferdinand Nderagakura， minister of agriculture and animal husbandry who graduated from the Zhejiang Agricultural University， is also a member of the BCFA. He is the first African incumbent minister who has studied in China， Thanks to the participation of these influential figures， the BCFA is full of vigour. It has resumed its contact with the CPAFFC that had been suspended for about 20 years， making it possible for the CPAFFC delegation to visit the country.

The Burundian side attached great importance to the delegation’s visit. Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and First Vice President Yves Sahinguvu met with the delegation on separate occasions. President Pierre Nkurunziza expressed his thanks to China for its aid to Burundi and training of personnel， and welcomed Chinese enterprises to make investment in Burundi and accelerate cooperation in financing. First Vice President Yves Sahinguvu said， the Burundian government will give support to the Chinese entrepreneurs who invest and do business in Burundi. In his meeting with them， CPAFFC President Chen Haosu said， China is a good friend of African countries and seeks common development with them. To support the BCFA in carrying out its activities， the delegation presented it computers， mobile phones and other office equipment.

Blooming Flowers of China-Tanzania Friendship

Tanzania， the largest country in East Africa， boasts beautiful natural environment and rich natural resources. It has not only snow-capped mountains， but also vast blue oceans and lakes; not only lush green forests and fields， but also stretches of bare deserts. The country with a total area of 945，000 square kilometres is composed of the Tanganyika Mainland and the Zanzibar Island. The delegation had the chance to enjoy the scenery of both parts of the country.

Lauded as “green island” and “garden on the sea”， the Zanzibar Island， with warm sunshine and dense forests， has spring-like climate all the year round. The delegation visited the local museum， the old town and the national park. Zanzibar has a long-standing history. In the 10th century AD， it was developed into a powerful Zanzibar Empire and ruled vast areas of East Africa. When walking in this famous ancient city， we saw broad boulevards and modern buildings， zigzag and narrow old streets and quaint houses with jet-black doors and elaborately carved doorframes， forming exotic and charming African urban scenery. Thanks to its bright sunshine， rich land， beautiful scenery and long history， Zanzibar has been called the “Pearl on the Indian Ocean” for hundreds of years.

But， it was also the centre of the darkest and most barbarous slave trade in the African history. On the dilapidated walls and the ruins of some buildings still remain the iron rings and chains once used to chain slaves. The roaring waves of the Indian Ocean sound like the wails and shouts of black slaves. Today when the people of various countries are jointly building a harmonious world， we will never forget history and will work hard for a better future for humankind and let the world be filled with love.

Dar es Salaam， capital of Tanzania， lies on the eastern seacoast of Africa and borders on the blue Indian Ocean. The city where trees and grass remain green all year round is fresh and elegant. During the delegation’s visit in the city， Celina Ompeshi Kombani， minister of state for regional administration and local government， and Dr. Diodorus Buberwa Kamala， minister for East African cooperation， met with the delegation on separate occasions. In his talk with the delegation Minister Kombani briefed on the financial and administrative reform made by the ministry for improving the governance capabilities. In his meeting with the delegation， Minister Diodorus Kamala gave a brief account of the East African Economic Community and expressed the hope that China would help Tanzania develop its shipping industry and build ports on the shore of Lake Victoria.

China and Tanzania have forged fraternal friendship. The world famous Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a milestone project in the history of China-Tanzania friendship. Shortly before the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games， a stadium that can contain 60，000 people built with Chinese aid was completed in Dar es Salaam. The Olympic torch relay was held here. Tanzania is the only country in Africa that the Olympic torch reached. The officials of the Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government who accompanied the delegation on the visit still kept a fresh memory of the scene at the time. The Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government is the new channel that the CPAFFC established in 2007 to promote exchanges between the Chinese and Tanzanian local governments. At present， Zanzibar City and Haikou of China have forged friendship-city ties. The CPAFFC will further its cooperation with the Ministry and discuss with it the prospects of friendship and cooperation during the China International Friendship Cities Conference to be held in 2010.