President Paul Kagame urges Japan to share its expertise in city planning & urban transport

Yesterday, Devdiscourse notified that President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and country's First Lady Jeannette Kagame have officially visited Japan and they were expected to attend multiple events. Recent reports claim that Japan and Rwanda have committed to strengthening bilateral ties and increasing avenues of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the people of both nations.

“Rwanda remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Japan, in the bilateral as well as the international arena, for the benefit of both our countries. I wish to invite you to visit Rwanda, at a time of your convenience,” Rwanda’s Head of State Paul Kagame said during the bilateral meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.

Kagame also expressed the eagerness of African Union to continue working with Japan on global issues including United Nations Security Council reforms. “The African Union will continue to work with Japan and other global partners, in the reforms of the UN Security Council, to make it more relevant to today’s realities,” he said.

“Japan is also a good partner for Africa. We look forward to deepening our mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, during the upcoming TICAD Summit in Yokohama,” he added.

He also expressed his thankfulness for Japan’s support to the Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Plan. According to him, with the constant increase in population and rapid urbanization, Rwanda is keen to learn from Japan its longstanding expertise and experience in city planning and urban transport.

As part of the visit, First Lady Jeannette Kagame was hosted to a working lunch by Mrs. Akie Abe, the wife to Prime Minister Abe, The New Times noted.