Presidents of Rwanda Paul Kagame (left) and of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt received the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, at Ittihadia Palace, where a formal reception was held, guard of honor was inspected and the two national anthems were played.
The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency stated that the two presidents held individual talks that were followed by extensive discussions that included the delegations of the two countries. President El-Sisi welcomed President Kagame in Egypt and expressed his appreciation for the historical relations between the two countries. The President confirmed Egypt’s keenness to enhance strategic cooperation with Rwanda across various fields, especially at the economic, trade, security and military levels, in addition to convening the joint committee between the two countries at the soonest time possible. This is in addition to strengthening coordination, consultation and exchange of views between the two sides within the framework of the African Union.
The President confirmed Egypt’s keenness to support Rwanda’s development needs, particularly in the sectors of in infrastructure, health and education, by optimizing the investments of specialized Egyptian companies that have gained extensive experience and expertise in these fields, also transferring expertise and building capacities through courses and grants offered by Egypt to contribute to building Rwandan cadres.
President Kagame expressed his country’s great appreciation for the longstanding and distinguished historical relations it shares with Egypt, stressing Rwanda’s keenness to develop these relations in various fields, especially trade and economic cooperation. He added his country’s interest in maximizing the technical support provided by Egypt to the Rwandan cadres in the area of capacity building, as well as receiving the support of the Egyptian companies working in the field of infrastructure, in light of the ambitious development agenda that Rwanda seeks to implement.
The Rwandan president also praised Egypt’s key role in the region to maintain peace and security, lauding in this regard the Egyptian positions aimed at achieving stability in the Great Lakes Region, East Africa and the Nile Basin, demonstrated by Egypt’s great support for resolving pending issues, within this framework, in the past. This is in addition to Egypt’s influential role within the African Union, especially in light of its historical leverage both politically and economically in the continent.
The Spokesman added that the meeting covered the latest regional developments of mutual interest, especially the issue of the Renaissance Dam. There was agreement to intensify coordination between the two countries in the coming period on this sensitive and vital issue. The President stressed the need to reach a legally binding agreement on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam within an appropriate time frame, in a manner that enhances regional security and stability, based on the rules of international law and Security Council decisions.
The meeting also touched on means to achieve economic and development integration among the Nile Basin countries. There was agreement on the importance of engaging in a constructive and effective dialogue in order to enhance strategic cooperation among the Nile Basin countries with the aim of promoting interests, facing common challenges and achieving comprehensive development for all the peoples of the region.
Concluding their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of memoranda of understanding between the two countries in the fields of diplomatic training, youth, sports support, museums, information technology and the post.(End)