Soviet diplomats walked out of a welcoming banquet for the President of Rwanda Mr. Juvenal Habyalimana in Peking on Thursday evening (June 8) as China's Senior Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-ping made a speech accusing the Soviet Union of "throwing Africa into unprecedented turmoil."
SYNOPSIS: President Habyalimana was attending a banquet in his honour at the Great Hall of the People in Peking to mark the start of his official visit to China. He had been welcomed at the airport by the Chinese Premier Hua Kuo-feng and Premier Teng.

Before President Habyalimana's arrival, an editorial in the people's Daily had praised Rwanda for its non aligned policies. It also criticised the Soviet Union and, addressing the banquet, Vice Premier Teng followed up this attack. He said the Soviet Union had made efforts to sow discord in Africa and had continually despatched mercenaries to the continent to "kindle the flames of war." He said Africa was causing grave concern.

The Soviet diplomats walked out during Vice Premier Teng's speech. It was the second Soviet-bloc walkout this year from a Peking banquet as the result of Chinese attacks on involvement in Africa. They missed a searing attack on the white-ruled countries of South Africa by President Habyalimna who said the situation there called for continuing support to be given to the groups fighting for black majority rule.