Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has started his three-day official visit in Rwanda on Thursday. Upon his arrival, the Premier was welcomed by President Paul Kagame and other senior government officials.

During his first day in Rwanda, PM Hailemariam visited Ntebe Integrated Model Village in Rwamagana District, in Eastern Province, a village set up to host the most economically vulnerable members of the society so as to economically benefit them.

The village is aimed at providing dignified housing, access to social amenities and government services, so as to ensure that they can engage in economic activities.

Ethiopia and Rwanda have enjoyed strong bilateral ties. The two countries at the second Ethio-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), a technical level meeting, which concluded in Kigali on Tuesday, identified new areas of cooperation.

Education, tourism and mutual legal assistance, are among the new areas of cooperation between the two countries. The two countries are expected to sign 10 agreements.

During his last visit to Kigali, in August 2015, the Ethiopian Prime Minister attended the launch of Meles Zenawi Foundation (MZF) symposium for development in Kigali.

The MZF aims at commemorating the late Meles Zenawi’s hard work and dedication to the Ethiopian people.