Tanzania, Rwanda agree to cement trade, economic ties

DAR ES SALAAM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Rwanda have agreed to strengthen trade and Economic relations that will benefit people in the two east African countries, said a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in Dar es Salaam on Thursday night.

The statement issued at the end of talks between Tanzanian President John Magufuli and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said the two leaders also discussed issues on the East African Community (EAC).

Kagame is current chairman of the EAC with a total population of about 165 million people.

"We have agreed to strengthen our bilateral relations, and our trade and Economic ties," the statement quoted President Magufuli as saying.

President Magufuli said the two leaders also agreed to accelerate development projects in the east African region for the benefit of its population, according to the statement.

President Kagame, who arrived in Tanzania on Thursday for a two-day state visit, said the talks also centered on how to improve the welfare of people in the two countries, and in the East African region in general.

President Magufuli, who rarely travels out of the country, made his first foreign visit to Rwanda in April 2016, five months after assuming office.

President Kagame's last state visit to Tanzania was in January 2018 where they agreed to collaborate on the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Isaka to Kigali.

President Kagame's visit to Tanzania comes amid deteriorating relations with Uganda and frosty ties with Burundi, partner states of the EAC.