No:012/25, Press release on the visit of Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev to Rwanda
18 January 2025 18:48
On 17 January 2025, the government mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev, paid a visit to the Republic of Rwanda.
During the visit, meetings of the delegation were held with State Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of the Republic of Rwanda Ms. Mutesi Rusagara, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Mr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Information Technology and Innovation Ms. Paula Ingabire, as well as with the heads of the Rwanda Development Board and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, and a familiarization visit to the Rwanda Entrepreneurship Incubation Center took place.
During the meetings held, it was noted that the discussions conducted during the reception of the President of the Republic of Rwanda Mr. Paul Kagame by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Leaders’ Summit of COP29 held in Baku created new opportunities for the development of cooperation between the two countries, and gratitude was expressed for the projects implemented in the fields of education and culture in Rwanda with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation within the framework of the visit of Vice-President of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva to Rwanda in December 2024.
During the discussions, it was noted that there are broad opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, education and other fields, and agreement was expressed on the establishment of joint working groups in areas of mutual interest and the implementation of mutual business missions. The interest shown by the Rwandan side in establishing citizen service centers based on Azerbaijan’s successful project in this field, the “ASAN service” concept, was highly appreciated.
Within the framework of the visit, the first meeting of political consultations at the level of deputy ministers between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda was also organized.
During the political consultations, bilateral political and economic issues, as well as future prospects of cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations were discussed. Emphasizing the importance of political consultations in terms of the development and coordination of bilateral relations, it was decided to organize its meetings on a regular basis.
During the visit, Yalchin Rafiyev visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, laid a wreath at the Memorial as a sign of respect for the victims of the mass killings, and wrote his thoughts in the book of remembrance.
The government mission included representatives of the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AZPROMO and the Azerbaijan Investment Holding.
