Since 2009, Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda has been expanding the scale to meet the needs of learning the Chinese language and culture for Rwandan people, said Chen, adding that the number of registered students has been increasing from over 200 in 2009 to over 5,100 in 2019.

Young people hold the key to the future of the country, and the establishment of the Confucius Institute is meant to use skill and knowledge to empower the youth to explore their academic potential, said George Njoroge, principal of the College of Education at the University of Rwanda.

In the fast-changing world, knowing the Chinese language and culture will give students an advantage in competition with others, he said.

Confucius institute, named after ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, serves as a non-profit public institution to help foreigners better understand China through language teaching and culture introduction in universities overseas. The first such institute was established in 2004.