As the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is approaching, Chinese Embassy in Rwanda is going to host a series of cultural activities called China Culture Month to celebrate the 60th anniversary and let more ordinary Rwandan people better understand the Chinese culture, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Sun Shuzhong told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

China Culture Month, scheduled to start on September 16, will include Chinese bamboo and straw weaves exhibition, two photo expositions, a Chinese film week and performance by some Chinese artists.

"Exchange and cooperation between countries should be based on culture," Sun emphasized. He said although cultural exchange between China and Africa has made some progress in recent years, ordinary people in African countries still do not know much about China. Bilateral culture exchange should be greatly enhanced.

Describing the China Culture Month as a good opportunity, Sun said Rwandan people can know more about China's historic legacy, diversified culture, modern landscape, social and economic development, Chinese people and promising future through the expositions, pictures and films.

"I hope China Culture Month will help bridge the people of China and Rwanda and push forward the bilateral cultural exchanges to a new height," added Sun.

The bilateral relations between China and Rwanda have developed smoothly in various areas since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1971. China-Africa relationship, China-Rwanda ties included, has entered a new period since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.

According to the statistics from the Chinese embassy in Rwanda, the trade volume with Rwanda reached 95 million U.S. dollars in 2008, an increase of 61 percent from 2007.

Sun said so far this year trade volume between the two countries has reached 70 million U.S. dollars with whole-year volume expected to exceed the level of 2008. At the same time, Chinese investment in Rwanda is also increasing steadily.

Confucius Institute at Kigali Institute of Education began introducing Chinese language lessons in Rwanda in June this year. Sun believed the institute can further contribute to the bilateral language exchange, cultural cooperation and the development of bilateral relations.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2009)