Late in the afternoon, as long shadows play across Kigali's lush rolling hills, a dozen Rwandan student show up for Chinese class at the Confucius Institute. They greet their Chinese teachers with a "ni hao," -- hello, in Chinese, and then the guys gather for a kung fu lesson, while the women watch on the fringes.

"I like learning Chinese," says Marianje Ayinkiamiye, who's been studying here almost a year. "I'd like to study Chinese medicine, and bring it back here. Also, I like singing in Chinese. May I sing you something?"

Of course, I reply. Her voice is sweet, and rich. The song is a traditional Chinese ode to the jasmine blossom. When she's done, I compliment her on her singing, and ask if she knows that this year in China, the government has been blocking online mentions of "jasmine." It's been worried about potential attempts to spread the "Jasmine Revolution" of the Middle East to China.

"Thanks for that news," she says, with a little smile. "I hadn't heard about it."

No surprise there. China's Confucius Institutes around the world are about spreading appreciation for Chinese culture and language, not news about political fault lines in China. The Confucius Institutes are part of the Chinese government's multi-billion dollar effort to improve its image in the world, and increase its ��soft power' -- the degree to which others admire, appreciate and want to emulate China. Since the Confucius Institute project started seven years ago, some 300 have opened around the globe -- 21 in Africa.

"I want African people to know the real China," says Kong Lingyuan, the Kigali Confucius Institute's Chinese director. He's lanky and laid-back, having apparently absorbed some of the local culture from when he was a PhD student in anthropology at Berkeley. But he still doesn't think highly of Western media coverage of China -- including coverage of China's efforts in Africa.

"For instance, they say Chinese companies take out Africans' resources, and pollute the environment," he says. But in fact, in Rwanda, more than 80 percent of the roads were built by Chinese companies. And the biggest building was built by Chinese people."

I suggest that both are true -- that Chinese companies are involved in extracting copper, minerals and oil from places like Zambia, Congo and Angola but that they also build infrastructure. Kong shrugs good-naturedly, but says he still thinks the international image of China in Africa is off.

"Because the Chinese use these resources to serve the whole world, including America, Europe, Africa -- not just China," he says.

The Confucius Institute here has about 300 students now, with big plans to expand -- to teach Chinese in Rwandan universities, high schools and eventually, primary schools. The first program in a high school is about to start. Kong says, while the outreach is intended to improve Rwandans' understanding and appreciation of China, there's something of practical value in it for them, too.

"Chinese language will become an international business language," he says. "Right now, it's English, but China will become more used. So people who want to do international business will do better if they learn Chinese."

Some of the students here don't need to be persuaded. Enable Sibomana, a 28-year-old physical education teacher, says he'd like to do an MA in physical education in China.

"If we speak the language, the Chinese government gives Rwandans a chance to go," he says. "They give us scholarships -- more than other countries."

Sibomana throws himself into the kung fu instruction at the start of class, crouching and punching the air. He towers over his Chinese instructor -- and when he crouches, his pants hitch up to reveal Tweetybird-emblazoned socks.