BENIN - President Kagame arrived in Benin yesterday for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Yayi Boni.

Shortly after arrival in Cotonou, President Kagame and President Yayi Boni participated in the launch of a polio vaccination campaign, each administering the critical vaccine to a child at the ceremony.

The President participated in an International Symposium to commemorate the 50th Independence Anniversary of African Countries that began in Cotonou on 16 November and was officially inaugurated yesterday.

Speaking to the local press, Kagame called the symposium an important forum through which Africans can collectively reflect on the past to better shape a common prosperous future.

The President delivered a keynote address at the symposium whose theme is "The Audacity of Bold Actions: The Foremost Challenge in Realizing Africa’s Renewal”. Also scheduled to speak at the Symposium is President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal.

AU President Ping who addressed the opening session of the symposium, commended President Kagame for his continued call to Africans to speak as one voice for common prosperity. He praised President Yayi for the initiative taken in organising this important forum.

President Kagame was also expected to address and interact with African youth at a special session during the symposium.

By press time, President Kagame was to attend a State banquet held in his honour where he is scheduled to be presented the "Grand Croix - Ordre de merit du Benin” the country’s highest national award.

The decoration is awarded exclusively to personalities of the rank of Head of State in recognition of outstanding achievement or to express esteem.

Previous recipients of the award include former US President George Bush, President Blaise Compaore of Burkinafaso and the UN Secretary General Bank Ki Moon.

Ends