BERLIN  - President Paul Kagame yesterday met and held bilateral discussions with his German counterpart, Horst Köhler where they deliberated on the social, economic and political cooperation involving their countries and the European Union.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, the German President was keen to learn more about progress in Rwanda, and congratulated Kagame on the doing business indicators in the recent World Bank Report.

Köhler wanted to know more about the efforts put into attaining these milestones – which Kagame explained by pointing to the various reforms undertaken in the recent past in Rwanda towards improving the investment climate.  

Other issues raised included progress in securing peace in the region, especially in Eastern Congo.

"President Kagame elaborated by sharing information on the joint operations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the importance of ownership of this problem by the principal parties,” reads statement.

"This was a breakthrough because in the past, there was a false assumption that external players would provide a solution.”

Köhler wished to know how he could play a more active and productive role in mobilizing the German population and other European leaders to the African developmental cause.

President Kagame said that it would be most helpful to continue engaging in constructive dialogue.

The two leaders also discussed how development aid could be rendered more effective by directing it towards building productive capacity development in support of creating domestic ability to produce for markets, as opposed to giving aid which breeds dependency.

Later, the President had lunch with over fifty German business leaders who wanted to learn more about investment opportunities, some of whom are already doing business in Rwanda, in sectors such as finance and energy.

Meanwhile, President Kagame is today expected be a guest of honour at the prestigious Quadriga Awards where he will present "The dynamism of hope” Quadriga to Mikhail Gorbachev, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Russian President.

The event which will be held in the German capital Berlin will also see three other personalities honoured among them; Donald Tusk the Polish Prime Minister and José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission.

The Quadriga is an annual award that is awarded on the Day of German Unification on October 3 and honors five personalities or institutions whose commitment brings people together.

Ends