Chinese Ambassador Rao Hong Wei Attends the Handover Ceremony of the China-aided Extension Project of IPRC MUSANZE in Northern Province
2021/11/25

On November 24th, 2021, the handover Ceremony of the China-aided Extension Project of IPRC MUSANZE was held at the IPRC MUSANZE in Northern Province. H.E. Rao Hongwei, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Hon. Claudette IRERE, Minister of State of the Ministry of Education, Dr. James GASHUMBA, Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, Mr. Emile ABAYISENGA, Principal of IPRC MUSANZE, and representatives from related organizations, and enterprises attended the ceremony.


Ambassador Rao commented at the ceremony that "In a hundred-year strategy of a nation, education is the most important base." Education is the top priority of a country's development. Both China and Rwanda attach great importance to education and youth development, especially in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties of the two countries have achieved fast expansion and demonstrated fresh vitality with fruitful cooperation in all areas, including education and human resources. The successful completion and handover of the expansion Project of IPRC MUSANZE bear witness to our traditional friendship, and is another milestone of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between China and Rwanda. It is believed that the expanded campus will provide a better platform for more and more Rwandan professional talents to grow, and will also play a positive role in accelerating the development of TVET in Rwanda, improving employability and labor income of youth, and the speed-up of economic transformation and upgrading. China is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust, and push for continuous development of bilateral friendly cooperative relations, so as to create benefits for both countries and peoples.


Ms. Claudette, on behalf of the Rwandan Government, expressed sincere appreciation and thanks to China for its earnest, efficient and selfless assistance and praised this Project as a symbol of the brotherly relationship between the two countries. She said, now with the completion of this Project, the facilities and equipment of IPRC MUSANZE have been greatly improved, which is of great significance to the cultivation of professional talents, the enhancement of the independent innovation capability of Rwanda, and the achievement of the goals set by Rwanda's Vision 2050 and National Strategy for Transformation (NST1). The Rwandan side values the friendship with China and is willing to join hands and collaborate more with China in the fields of human resources development and TVET to promote the high-quality development of education in Rwanda.


The expanded IPRC MUSANZE now covers an area of 71,000 square meters with a building area of 16,300 square meters. It includes administration office building, multi-functional hall, comprehensive classroom building, training workshop and other facilities, and has the capacity to enroll more than 2,000 students.