Netanyahu, Congo president agree to strengthen economic, security ties

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi in Jerusalem on Tuesday, with the two leaders agreeing to strengthen economic and security relations between their countries.

Netanyahu welcomed Tshisekedi at the Prime Minister’s Office, describing him as a “good friend” of Israel.

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“It is a pleasure welcoming our good friend, the president of the Republic of Congo, in Israel. It is a great friendship. We are strengthening it, and this visit will only help strengthen it even further. So welcome, Mr. President!” said Netanyahu.

Tshisekedi also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, accompanied by a senior Congolese delegation.

The two presidents discussed bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues, including security challenges facing their countries. Herzog later hosted Tshisekedi for dinner, attended by the foreign ministers of Israel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and members of both delegations.

Herzog said Israel places significant importance on expanding its relations with African countries, and thanked Tshisekedi for his support for the Jewish state in international forums.

“The relations that we have with the Democratic Republic of the Congo are incredibly important to us. We have so many fields of cooperation. We respect your support of Israel, Mr. President, in the international arena, and this visit shows the depth and importance of these relations,” said Herzog.

“Israel puts a major focus on its relations with Africa,” he continued. “I have had the enormous pleasure of visiting the continent of Africa on numerous occasions in the last few years, and I hope to see more of Africa, and meet and have a dialogue with African leaders across the continent.”

Herzog said Israel was prepared to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in addressing humanitarian and development challenges.

“Our relations stem from the love of the Bible and the vision of moving forward toward development and doing good in the family of nations,” he said.

Tshisekedi said his country and Israel have long-standing ties that Kinshasa wants to strengthen, and said his discussions with Herzog covered international and regional issues as well as peace and security.

“Our discussions confirmed our shared commitment to giving a new dimension to cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the State of Israel, particularly in agriculture and food security, water, health, technology and innovation, security, training and investment,” said Tshisekedi.

“Our ambition is to build with Israel a modern, pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership, one that is measured not only by the agreements we sign, but by their implementation and the results they produce for our two peoples,” he added.

Herzog visited Kinshasa earlier this year, where he met Tshisekedi as part of Israel’s efforts to deepen diplomatic ties with African nations.

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