German minister to visit

The German Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Dr Barbara Hendricks, is expected in Rwanda for a two-day official visit, from September 26 to 28, the German embassy in Kigali said on Monday. During his visit, Dr Hendrickswill meet her counterparts, Minister of Natural Resources, Dr Vincent Biruta of Rwanda, and Lina Pohl, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources from El Salvador, with whom she will hold trilateral talks about sustainable management of natural resources, according to a statement. The meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to exchange views on the individual national experiences and views in relation to Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and national strategies, plans and programmes in place or under development, the statement said. There will also be discussions about the further implementation of the Bonn-Challenge-Process, it added. The Bonn-Challenge is an international action platform launched in 2011 in Bonn, Germany. It seeks to make the fight against deforestation a high political priority in all affected countries. ‘‘Efforts to reduce deforestation and FLR go hand in hand. The Bonn Challenge is an effective and voluntary tool for contributing to economic growth, rural development, soil conservation and global climate benefits,’’ the statement added. Minister Hendricks will also visit several Afforestation projects within the country and a German solar energy project. He will then address a news conference on September 26 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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German minister to visit