Kigali, 26 August 2012
Today at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received Minister Didier Reynders of Belgium. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Reynders is in Rwanda as part of a week long regional visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.Minister Reynders has expressed the goal of his visit as an opportunity to learn more and has called on Rwanda to play a positive role in the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Belgium and Rwanda have maintained mutually beneficial cooperation since 2004 when the two countries resumed the relationship suspended in 1994. Since 2004, Belgium and Rwanda have signed a Cooperation Agreement and established a Parliamentarian Friendship Group that facilitates exchanges between the two nations. In 2011, Belgium increased its financial support by 20 million Euros for the health, energy and decentralization sectors.
Following today’s visit, Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo and Minister Reynders held a joint press conference for local, regional and international press.