PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday arrived in Rwanda to attend a one-day heads of State and Government summit that will discuss progress on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The president would join other African leaders at a meeting in Kigali organised by Rwandan President Paul Kagame to review progress made by African countries in implementing the MDGs.

The leaders would share their countries' experiences ahead of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be held this month in New York, which will focus on the MDGs.

Since Zambia became a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, the country has put in place a number of development frameworks to support the realisation of the MDGs.

After the summit, President Banda will join other African leaders today at an inauguration ceremony of Lieutenant General Kagame, who was recently re-elected as president of Rwanda.

Mr Banda, who was accompanied by first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, was seen off at Lusaka International Airport by Vice-President George Kunda, Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, Agriculture Minister Peter Daka, and other senior Government officials.

On arrival in Kigali, President Banda was welcomed at the airport by Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Mukuza, Zambian High Commissioner to Tanzania Darius Bubala, and other Zambian and Rwandan officials.

Times Reporter/Zanis