MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian and Rwandan foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Louise Mushikiwado, have exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, an official at the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Sergei Lavrov said that relations between Russia and Rwanda had always been friendly and called for building up mutually advantageous cooperation in various spheres for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries. The Russian foreign minister stressed that it was symbolic that the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda had resumed its work in Moscow in the jubilee year.

The Rwandan minister of foreign affairs and regional cooperation, in turn, confirmed the interest of her country in maintaining close interaction with Russia at the United Nations and the UN Security Council, as well as in strengthening partnership and multi-dimensional bilateral cooperation.