国际英语资讯:Interview: Rwanda minister says new Mombasa-Nairobi railway vital to east African integratio_时事

国际英语资讯:Interview: Rwanda minister says new Mombasa-Nairobi railway vital to east African integratio

The minister described the relationship between Rwanda and China as "excellent."

"We are very happy about that cooperation in all areas... at the technical level, development level," he said.

"At the international cooperation level, the relationship between Rwanda and China can be a very good example for the rest of the world," Gatete said.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met Chinese President Xi last March during his visit to Beijing, where the two leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral strategic cooperation..

Over the past decades, Rwanda managed to achieve an average growth of 8.0 percent, cutting the poverty level from 79 percent in 1995 to 39 percent in 2017. Gatete attributed the success to the leadership and vision of President Kagame, the importance the country attaches to free universal primary and secondary education and the focus on science, technology, research and innovation, as well as technical and vocational training.

Known as one of the world's cleanest governments, Rwanda practices a policy of zero tolerance toward corruption.

Gatate said for leaders and people in responsible positions, everybody, from the president to anyone else, has to declare his or her wealth at the end of each June to the ombudsman.

"Corruption... if you do it, you know the consequences," he said. "You cannot reduce it to zero, but at least people know the consequences."

The minister also talked about Rwanda's efforts in coping with the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, which left more than 1 million Tutsis and some moderate Hutus dead, and the measures taken to lift the country from the dark past.