Ethiopia, Rwanda vow to further strengthen bilateral relations

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame on Thursday held talks with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, during his official visit to the country.

Ethiopia and Rwanda have vowed to further strengthen and deepen relations between the two countries. with an agreement signed on urban development cooperation.

Prime Minister Hailemariam said he discussed with President Kagame and agreed to share experiences as well as best practices on boosting economic growths in their respective countries.

He also revealed that they have dwelt upon issues of regional integration and electricity interconnection between Ethiopia and Rwanda.

"The issue of integration in the region was our agenda item. And we decided that there will be energy, electricity interconnection between our two countries through the regional pool and that integration will help us to boost, to transform our economies into industrial economy," noted Hailemariam.

The Prime Minister said that they have also agreed to share experiences in agriculture and rural development.

"And again, we agreed that we will cooperate on peace and security in our region. You know that Ethiopia and Rwanda contribute to peace and security of both in Eastern Region and we have also experience in the Great Lakes region. So, both of us we want to exchange our views and cooperate in pacifying our region as well as the continent," added Hailemariam.

President Kagame expressed Rwanda's commitment to making joint efforts with Ethiopia for the benefit of the two countries and the regional integration at large.

"Rwanda and Ethiopia collaborate, work together not only for the benefit of only the two countries and our peoples, but also for regional integration, the strengthening and building of our continent," noted Kagame. Endi