Week of 16th to 22nd September 2024
This new section of our website aims to share with our readers the weekly activities of the President of the Republic, those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the highlights of the week.
This week, here are the main events:
Monday 16 September 2024: Sino-Congolese cooperation ahead of FOCAC 2024
The week began with a strategic meeting in Beijing between the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, ahead of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). During the meeting, President Tshisekedi reaffirmed the DRC’s commitment to the ‘One China’ policy, recognising Taiwan as an integral part of Chinese territory. He also expressed his gratitude for China’s continued support within the United Nations Security Council, particularly with regard to sovereignty and stability in the Great Lakes region.
Discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, renewable energy and industrialisation through the local processing of Congolese mining resources. The Chinese vice-premier, Ding Xuexiang, reaffirmed Beijing’s desire to deepen the Sino-DRC partnership for mutual benefit.
Tuesday 17 September 2024: Opening of the Concrete Expo in Kinshasa
On Tuesday, President Tshisekedi opened the eighth edition of Expo Béton, a trade fair dedicated to urban development, development corridors and special economic zones. Taking place simultaneously in Kinshasa and Matadi, the theme of the event is ‘Urban revolution: sustainable solutions for Kinshasa and Kongo-Central in the Western Corridor’.
In his opening speech, Félix Tshisekedi emphasised the importance of this event in tackling the challenges facing Kinshasa, particularly as a result of its rapid demographic growth. He recalled the creation of a ministry responsible for urban policy and the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPP) in response to the recommendations of previous editions of Expo Béton.
Thursday 19 September 2024: Diplomacy and the peace process in eastern DRC
Thursday was marked by two major diplomatic events. On the one hand, President Tshisekedi received the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte Antonio, bearing a message from President João Lourenço concerning the peace process in the east of the DRC. This message is part of the peace talks held in Luanda between the foreign affairs ministers of the DRC, Angola and Rwanda. Minister Téte Antonio reiterated President Lourenço’s commitment to working for the restoration of peace in this conflict-affected region.
President Tshisekedi also received the credentials of four new ambassadors accredited to the DRC: Zabavy François-Xavier (Côte d’Ivoire), Joséphine Patricia Ntyam Ehya (Gabon), Joakim Vaverka (Sweden) and Rémi Marechaux (France). The Head of State encouraged these diplomats to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the DRC and their respective countries, paving the way for new opportunities for international collaboration.
Conclusion
This week has been marked by significant diplomatic advances for the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a strengthening of bilateral cooperation with China, innovative urban initiatives in Kinshasa, and sustained efforts for the peace process in the east of the country. Diplomacy remains at the heart of President Tshisekedi’s strategy to strengthen the DRC’s position on the international stage while tackling internal challenges, particularly those relating to urbanisation and security.
