Tanzania and Rwanda held the 13th Session of their Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC) to review the implementation of the resolutions of the 12th Session of the Commission and identify new areas of cooperation between the two countries. The Session was held in Dar es Salaam from 8th to 9th of August 2011.

The Session was co-Chaired by Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania and Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda and was attended by Senior Officials of the two countries.

The meeting also focused on various crucial areas including, strengthening security at the common border as well as jointly undertaking infrastructural development in both countries, including preventive measures to put a stop to conflicts that keep arising as a result of cattle keepers crossing the border back and forth between the two countries.

Reflecting on the 12th Session previously held in May 2005, the current 13th JPC provided an occasion for the two sides to discuss issues of mutual interest particularly in the areas of foreign affairs, immigration, police and prisons infrastructure development, communications, science and technology, social services, trade and investment, tourism and conservation.

In their statements, both Hon. Bernard K. Membe and Hon. Louise Mushikiwaho, expressed commitments of the Government of United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda respectively, to strengthen the bilateral relations that so happily exist between the two countries. In particular, the commission underscored the need to enhance cooperation in strengthening security at the common border.

At the conclusion of the session, the two Ministers signed agreed minutes which elaborate areas of cooperate and modalities of the implementations. The commission resolved to hold its 14th Session of the JPC in Kigali in August 2012.