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Rwanda, DR Congo to revitalize bilateral relations

Xinhua, August 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rwanda and DR Congo Friday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation particularly in areas of cross border trade and energy.

This is the outcome of talks between Congolese President Joseph Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame.

Kabila was in neighboring Rwanda for talks on regional cooperation. The two presidents met in the western Rwanda border town of Rubavu.

"The two sides exchanged on several topics regarding mutual interest and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation particularly in areas of cross border trade and energy, particularly in the extraction of methane gas in Lake Kivu. It was agreed that a joint technical team will begin its work before the end of August 2016," said a statement issued at the end of the meeting posted on Rwanda's presidency Twitter account.

Kagame in May launched the Kivu-Watt Gas Power Plant located in the western Rwanda district of Karongi.

The Kivu-Watt Methane Gas plant on Lake Kivu added 25 megawatts to the national electricity grid.

American energy firm Contour Global was given a 25-year concession to produce 100 megawatts from Lake Kivu, said to be the world's only methane rich water body.

On cooperation on security, the statement said "both sides hailed the progress made in line with eradicating negative forces and also stressed the importance of establishing strong mechanism for the timely sharing of intelligence."

DR Congo harbours Rwandan rebels, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, made of elements blamed for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Endit