Senior Chinese official Zhai Jun told Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in talks here that Beijing is ready to play a wider role in regional security, Radio Rwanda reported Wednesday.
"As a permanent member of the UN security council, China is ready to play a constructive role in promoting sustainable stability and security in the Great Lakes region," said Zhai, an assistant foreign minister.
Relations between the countries in the region and notably between Rwanda and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been strained for much of the past 15 years, ever since the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda fled into DRC and formed armed groups based there.
Since last year Rwanda and DRC have mended ties.
"We highly appreciate the contribution of Rwanda to the process aimed at bringing peace to the region," Zhai said, after meeting with Kagame on bilateral relations and regional questions.
China is better known in the region for instructure and construction projects than as a peace broker.
Chinese companies have been active in Rwanda since the 1970s and have built most of the country's road network as well as the national football stadium. Currently Chinese companies are building a vast convention centre in the capital and a hotel that is poised to become Rwanda's biggest.
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