The 25th session of the Liangxiang Forum of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University took place on the afternoon of April 30, 2024, in room 327 of the Central Main Building. The theme of the session was "Rwanda's Journey to Unity, Reconciliation, and Economic Development after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi." The lecture was delivered by H.E. James Kimonyo, who is the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the People's Republic of China, and the session was hosted by Dr. Xiao Qijia, an Assistant Professor at IIAS. Prof. Pan Huaqiong, an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Peking University; Dr. Gao Liangmin, an Assistant Professor at IIAS; and Mr. Wang Shujian, a PhD Candidate in the Developing Country Studies Program at IIAS, attended as discussants. The lecture attracted approximately 120 participants, including IIAS faculty members and doctoral students, scholars and students from both domestic and international universities, as well as others interested in the topic.
The lecture started with a video interview featuring a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The interview highlighted the deep pain inflicted on the Rwandan people and their resilience and solidarity since then. The ambassador began the lecture by introducing Rwanda's geographical location, colonial history, and the historical context that led to the genocide. He explained that the genocide was triggered by the historical legacy of the colonial period and various political and social factors, representing a heartbreaking manifestation of humanity's darkest side.
During the second part of the lecture, the ambassador discussed Rwanda's journey of national unity and reconciliation under the new government. In the final part of the lecture, he introduced Rwanda Vision 2020 and Rwanda Vision 2050, outlining Rwanda's path to economic development. He highlighted the resilience and determination of the Rwandan people and the invaluable support from international partners, including China. At present, Rwanda's collaboration with China covers education, healthcare, infrastructure development, trade, and investment. Chinese foreign direct investment in Rwanda ranks among the highest in the world, with over $1 billion in the past five years.
After the lecture, the participants had a lively discussion with the ambassador. They discussed topics such as Rwanda's foreign relations policy after 1994, the role of traditional culture in Rwanda's future development plans and those of other developing countries, and the construction of Rwandan national identity. At the end of the lecture, the ambassador answered questions from both the online and offline audience. The questions focused on the most influential factors in Rwanda's national reconciliation process and the allocation of resources in different development areas in Rwanda Vision 2020.
His Excellency James Kimonyo is the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the People's Republic of China and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He also served as the Ambassador to the United States of America, the Republic of Kenya, and South Africa, and as Non-Resident Ambassador to numerous countries in both Africa and Latin America. He has held various senior positions within the government. Ambassador James Kimonyo holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in civil engineering.
