The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding (MoU), was signed by the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It is intended to improve technical cooperation and strengthen the capacity of both countries to regulate the aviation sector.

Rwanda’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Col. Claudien Ntirenganya, said the agreement reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with China.

He described the deal as another step towards building on the existing relationship between the two countries, while making air travel safer for passengers.

“We are committed to further strengthening our cooperation. Today, we are not just signing a document; we are reinforcing the friendship between our two countries and investing in making the skies safer for all passengers travelling on our aircraft,” he said.

Ntirenganya noted that aviation safety depends on several factors, including ensuring aircraft meet the required standards, pilots have valid licences and airports operate under adequate safety measures.

He said cooperation between aviation regulators was essential to achieving these standards, particularly through sharing technical expertise and experience.

Focus on aircraft certification and regulatory cooperation

Under the agreement, Rwanda and China will work more closely on the recognition of aviation documents, certificates and licences. The move is expected to reduce repeated inspections and make regulatory procedures more efficient.

The partnership will also support the exchange of expertise in aircraft inspections and airworthiness certification, the process used to determine whether an aircraft meets the safety requirements for flight.

Both countries are expected to benefit from closer technical cooperation and knowledge-sharing aimed at strengthening compliance with civil aviation regulations and improving aircraft safety oversight.

Rwanda and China already cooperate in several areas, including transport and infrastructure. The latest agreement adds to those efforts, with a particular focus on aviation safety and the effectiveness of regulatory systems.