18 Aug
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) (In progress) Prime Minister of Foreign Affair, thank you for putting to our disposal the media – the international media present in this room (inaudible) conference, the first one, the first parts will be (inaudible) taking the floor His Excellency Mr. And then he will submit the floor to (inaudible) the Secretary of State Mr. Blinken, and will take part (inaudible) this conference. We will first submit the floor to the media so that they can submit their questions, and not just regarding the bilateral meeting (inaudible) but particularly regarding the meeting, face-to-face meeting with the president of the republic that (inaudible). Mr. President of the Democratic Republic of Congo allow, allow me to break in. And Mr. Prime Minister, Vice Prime Minister, I submit the floor to you for your opening remarks.
VICE PRIME MINISTER LUTUNDULA: (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary of State, in September of last year, receiving you in an audience in New York, the president of the republic Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo suggested to conduct an official visit to DRC, and you accepted the suggestion, the proposal. And on June 2nd of last year, during our meeting in our cabinets, the Department of State in Washington, then after the decision of the chiefs of states, we communicated officially the invitation of the government of my country and to actually accept that visit. And you told us, dear Antony, that you will come to DRC before the end of this year. And given words and taken words (inaudible).
So this is evidence of the interests United States has to DRC to willing – the will of its leaders to develop with our country a cooperation and partnership, strategic partnership, and fruitful for American people and Congolese people. Thank you very much for keeping your words, and thank you very much for this interest, and this will confirm today officially. So we ensure that the chief of state, His Excellency Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo are in the same dispositions of mind or of state of mind.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it’s based on this, on political will shared, to advance our old friendship that resists to the time and different challenges that we’ve faced throughout history, whatever they have been. And it’s on – it’s based on this and still based on it that have been marked by determination of the United States and of DRC to consolidate their partnership in a period that you actually know which is really, really turbulent.
And either in the international level or on the eastern side of the country, always in trouble, facing challenges with terrorists and an armed group that is – are killing our populations since two decades ago now
And it’s based on this that we have exchanged and discussed bilaterally with the delegation, the American delegation, conducted by the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and exchanging – exchanged on common interests, particularly in the following fields: defense and security, focusing on security in the eastern side of the Congo, and military cooperations, finance and economy, precisely regarding the program of reform – economic reforms and foreign investment of the government, and the exploitation of natural resources industries. We also exchanged on environment, mining, and democracy.
And based on all those materials, we have exchanged our analysis to develop a common understanding
And more importantly, we have underlined new perspectives based on the reciprocal engagements. And the hardest part remains to come, is yet to come. And the main challenge that we are facing is actually on the implementation – the implementation of these new perspectives and this involvement in order to give real content to – tangible content to our cooperation or friendship, but also a content – a profitable content to Congolese and Americans, and that will give legitimacy to democracy and the fate and the well-being that you actually know in Democratic Republic of Congo, the ultimate goal, the outcomes of all political actions.