India, Rwanda decide to elevate their multi-faceted cooperation to strategic partnership

Reiterating their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, India and Rwanda have decided to elevate their multi-faceted cooperation to a strategic partnership with focus on key areas for the prosperity of both countries and regions.

The two countries have agreed to hold high-level exchanges with increased periodicity, double bilateral trade in five years, cooperate to promote investments in mutually beneficial projects and support each other at the United Nations, WTO and other multilateral fora on matters of mutual interest.

The two sides also agreed to collaborate closely on counterterrorism cooperation including blocking financing of terrorist activities, removing safe havens for terrorists and preventing money laundering.

India and Rwanda have agreed to promote people to people exchanges especially in movement of professionals in areas like Information Technology, Teaching, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The two countries expressed satisfaction in the broad based bilateral cooperation spanning over the past two decades between them.

Acknowledging their common experiences with colonialism, India and Rwanda recognized that both countries are gateways to their respective regions.

Rwanda acknowledged the role of India as an important partner for Africa's development specially the initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit.

India and Rwanda will work closely to implement this strategic partnership.