Rwandan Embassy in China on Saturday evening held a commemoration of the 13th anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide in which nearly one million people lost their lives.

Under the candle light, a student choir from Rwanda sang at the ceremony and over 100 diplomats from China and other foreign embassies paid silent tribute.

"The genocide has left permanent scars in the mind of our nation... the lessons of genocide are universal," Rwandan Ambassador to China Benjamin Rugangazi said.

The most difficult challenges that post-genocide Rwanda has had to address are unity and reconciliation, he said, adding that complete unity and reconciliation after such enormous tragedy is a long process.

The latest sign of Rwanda's endeavor for promoting national reconciliation was the release of former Rwandan president Pasteur Bizimungu on Friday.

The country's first post-genocide president Bizimungu was freed after serving two years of a 15-year jail term by a presidential pardon issued by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in an effort to promote national unity, reports said.

The theme of this year's commemoration is "Remembering, assisting and promoting justice for the survivors of genocide".

"One can not talk of reconciliation without attending to justice," the ambassador said.

The Rwandan government and genocide survivors have called on the international community and countries that still harbor genocide suspects to hand over the criminals and let them face justice.

The Rwandan genocide in 1994 was sparked off shortly after the late president Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was secretively shot down on April 6.

About one million people, mainly Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus, were killed during a record time of 100 days of brutal massacres since April 7, 1994 in Rwanda.

"Every year, Rwandan people commemorate this day and take time to deeply reflect, remember their loved ones and rededicate themselves to nation-building," Rugangazi said.

"I am glad to note that China is one of the countries that has been consistently supportive to Rwanda," he said.

Source: Xinhua