Rwanda, Burundi commit to expanding bilateral ties

The President of Rwanda’s Senate, Dr. François Xavier Kalinda has held discussions with Denyse Ndadaye, the First Vice President of Burundian Senate revolving around strengthening and expanding bilateral relations for the interest of both countries’ people.

Ndadaye was along with the delegation of Burundian senators that accompanied the First Lady of Burundi, Angelique Ndayishimiye who attended the Women Deliver Conference taking place in Kigali from 17th to 20th July 2023.

Ndadaye and her delegation were warmly received by Dr. Kalinda at his office on Wednesday.

Following their closed-door discussions, Ndadaye addressed members of the press, highlighting the significance of their talks in deepening and expanding bilateral relations.

She emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas between the two countries, stating, "We came here to pave the way for reinforced relations. This visit is a valuable opportunity to strengthen the bond between Rwanda and Burundi, as the Kinyarwanda proverb goes, ’Ifuni ibagarira ubucuti ni akarenge’ [friendship is reinforced by reciprocal visits]."

Dr. Kalinda, Rwanda’s Senate President, expressed delight for welcoming his Burundian counterparts, underscoring the cordial relations between the two nations.

He stressed the commonalities shared by both countries, including their membership to regional organizations and the mutual challenges they face in the region.

"We have discussed how both parliaments can exchange visits to share ideas because we have much in common. We believe that we can contribute to efforts aimed at assisting the people of both countries at the parliamentary level. We have agreed to initiate this process and further strengthen our existing relations," Dr. Kalinda noted.

He took the opportunity to extend an invitation to the Burundian colleagues to attend the East African Inter-Parliamentary Games scheduled for December 2023.

PM