The Rwandan Head of State made these remarks during a joint press conference with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs. Kagame is on a three-day official visit to Latvia, which commenced on October 1, 2024.
During his visit, President Kagame toured the Latvian Occupation Museum, which showcases the country's history and struggle for independence. Kagame and his counterpart, Rinkēvičs also held a private meeting, followed by broader bilateral discussions with their respective delegations.
Speaking to the press after these engagements, Kagame expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to his delegation and reflected on the strong bilateral ties and mutual interests between Rwanda and Latvia.
'Following my discussion with the President and between our delegations, it is evident that Rwanda and Latvia share strong bonds of friendship. [...] The purpose of this visit is to explore new opportunities for the mutual benefit of our people,' Kagame remarked.
Among the key areas of cooperation, Kagame highlighted a growing interest in sustainable agriculture and expressed his appreciation for the visit to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, noting that it holds a universal message about the protection of rights and freedoms.
The President went on to share more values shared between both countries and areas of priority.
'What also unites Rwanda and Latvia is a common understanding that we can no longer do business as usual. We need a multilateral system that is more fit for purpose and which treats everyone equally,' he stated.
'We also need to prioritize growth areas such as information technology. [...] Ultimately, the mindset we have is to work together to find solutions to our unique set of challenges,' Kagame added.
Kagame also described Latvia's efforts to build a strong innovation ecosystem in Latvia as an example to be emulated.
He explained that Rwanda has also been doing its part, beginning with digitizing almost all public services.
The President further emphasized that Rwanda and Latvia are willing to support each other on a range of issues, notably peace and security and global development.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, in a message shared on his X account, expressed his zeal for deepening cooperation with Rwanda.
'Welcome, Your Excellency President Kagame, to Riga. Very much looking forward to developing strong political and trade cooperation between Latvia and Rwanda. It is also important to work together to uphold principles of international law both globally and regionally,' he wrote.
Latvia has fostered diplomatic relations with Rwanda since 2007, further strengthened by Rwanda's appointment of an ambassador in January 2022.
Kagame's visit marks the first official visit by a Rwandan president to the Baltic States, which comprise Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. It is also the first official visit by an African president to Latvia.
Located in northeastern Europe, Latvia is one of the smaller countries on the European continent, covering an area of 64,589 square kilometers. It shares borders with Lithuania to the south and Estonia to the north and has a population of approximately 1.88 million people.
The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after decades of occupation. Latvia's landscape features rolling hills, dense forests, and sandy beaches along the Baltic Sea coast.
Riga, the capital and largest city of Latvia, is renowned for its stunning architecture, which includes Art Nouveau buildings and medieval churches. The official language, Latvian, is a Baltic language with ancient roots.
Théophile Niyitegeka
