President Paul Kagame on Friday, September 11, met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris. According to Village Urugwiro, Kagame and Macron discussed the continued strengthening of Rwanda-France relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. ALSO READ: Kagame urges greater African participation in space economy They also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Kagame arrived in Paris on September 9 to attend the International Space Summit, co-hosted by France and Germany to advance dialogue and cooperation on the future of space, including the space economy, scientific exploration and the sustainable use of space. The summit brought together heads of state, representatives of international and regional organisations, scientists, military officials, astronauts, and decision-makers from the private sector, civil society, local communities and development banks. Kagame also met President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, who attended the summit. According to Village Urugwiro, Kagame and Sassou-Nguesso reaffirmed the strong and long-lasting relations between Rwanda and Congo. They also exchanged their views on shared priorities and the need to advance African-led solutions to challenges facing the continent. Rwanda-France ties Kagame and Macron last met in June, when they attended the unveiling of France’s first permanent memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The memorial, called “L’Archive”, was installed on the Esplanade Habib Bourguiba along the Seine in the Quai d’Orsay district of Paris. Kagame and Macron also attended the inaugural Africa Forward Summit in Kenya in May, which focused on strengthening cooperation between France and African countries in trade, investment and technology. ALSO READ: Kagame, Macron talk Great Lakes Region security Rwanda and France cooperate in areas including development, health, trade, education and investment. In 2024, the two countries agreed on a €400 million development partnership that will run until 2028. The countries also signed an air services agreement, under which RwandAir, operates three weekly flights to Paris. In the same year, the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) and France’s National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
