The Japanese ambassador to the DRC, Ogawa Hidetoshi, and the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Wagner Kayikwamba, were in charge of signing the instruments, the first of which stipulates the release of 15 million US dollars for the rehabilitation of the Maréchal bridge in Matadi.

This financing from the Asian nation will impact on the infrastructure and access roads to it, which will benefit the Congolese population in general and Central Congo in particular, Hidetoshi said, according to the Congolese Press Agency.

Both parties also signed a cooperation agreement worth 3.2 million dollars to provide food aid.

The diplomat of the Asian nation explained that the food aid provided will not only consist of the delivery of bags of rice, but above all in financing socio-economic projects that allow its production in the country.

For her part, the Congolese foreign minister welcomed the collaboration of several years between both nations, a partnership that materializes in concrete initiatives that contribute in several important and essential areas for the development of the DRC and the benefit of the population.

Also present at the event were the resident representative in the DRC of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Keiichi Okitsu, and the Congolese Deputy Prime Minister for Planning, Guylain Nyembo.

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