Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame met with President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez of Cuba on the sidelines of the G77 + China Summit.
The two Heads of State had friendly exchanges on the shared history of both Rwanda and Cuba, including President Kagame training in Havana 36 years ago as a Rwandan refugee living in Uganda.
Presidents Paul Kagame and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties including in the sector of education, health and trade between Rwanda and Cuba.
On the margins of the G77+China Summit, Rwanda and Cuba signed two agreements, one on Political Consultations and a Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.
Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Vincent Biruta met with his counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, and appended their signatures on the instruments.
Rwanda and Cuba have signed other agreements in recent times. In April last year, the two countries signed a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) to open up air links between Rwanda and both the Caribbean and South America.
In 2016, a cabinet meeting chaired by President Kagame appointed Gregory Biniowsky, a Cuban, as Rwanda’s honorary consul to Havana. Cuba also assigned a non-resident ambassador to Rwanda; Antonio Luis Pubillones Izaguire.
President Kagame acquired part of his military training in Cuba. He said he is happy to return to Havana, Cuba, 36 years after his last visit to pursue a military course, using the opportunity to relieve memories in the country.
“First of all, I am very happy to have been invited to the Summit taking place here in Havana, Cuba. For me, coming to Havana, Cuba is something of a great memory because I was in this country in 1986 running into 1987, which is 36 years ago. I was a young officer serving in a country that had given me a home as well, which was Uganda”, he said.
“I was here to do a course that was given to many Africans so I’m very happy that I am back even if it is a very long time, and to attend this time,” President Kagame added.
President Kagame is Havana, capital of Cuba, where he joined more than 30 world leaders from across the globe for the two-day G77 + China Summit of Heads of State and Government taking place on September 15 and 16. (End)