President Paul Kagame arrived in Vienna, Austria on Monday afternoon, where he will co-chair the High Level  Africa-Europe Forum alongside Austria’s Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Kagame will co-chair the forum in his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union.

The forum is expected to provide space for European and African leaders as well as chief executives of major global companies to reflect and act on what needs to be done to secure prosperity and competitiveness on both continents.

With Business to Business and Business to Government meetings, organisers say, the forum will serve as an opportunity to highlight the untapped potential for deepening partnership in technology exchange and trade, and their role in ensuring economic growth and fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.

The forum also aims to contribute to the ongoing implementation of the joint declaration of the 2017 Abidjan Summit on "Investing in Youth for Accelerated Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development”.

The joint declaration of the 2017 Abidjan Summit between the African Union and the European Union highlighted, among other things, the importance of unlocking the potential of the digital economy for the two continents.

Last evening, President Kagame and other Heads of State and Government were welcomed with a dinner hosted by Chancellor Kurz, according to a statement from the Office of the President. 

On Tuesday morning, the statement indicates, President Kagame will deliver his remarks at the forum alongside Chancellor Kurz, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, and President of the European Council Jean- Claude Juncker.

"President Kagame will also participate in the political leaders meeting taking place later in the morning,” the statement reads in part.

Kurz was in Rwanda earlier this month where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties between Rwanda and Austria as well as relations between the two continents which they are currently heading.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw