It is an extraordinary and
moving experience to be here in Rwanda today. A country that
experienced some of the worst horrors of the 20th century in
recent memory, and now finds itself with a thriving social and
economic life and near-universal primary education.
Today, Rwanda is hosting
leaders representing two-thirds of the world’s population,
stretching from the remotest islands of the Pacific to the
southern tip of Africa.
Rwanda was never a British
colony – it joined the Commonwealth of its own volition in 2009,
recognising the benefits that come from being part of a
progressive alliance representing two thirds of the world’s
population and some of its fastest-growing economies.
As many British Prime Ministers
before me – and of course both her Majesty the Queen and the
Prince of Wales – have recognised, there are few forums more
quietly important for our nation’s peace, prosperity and global
influence.
We benefit from the incredible
Commonwealth advantage – the ‘fertilizer’ I talked about
yesterday – of shared language and institutions, which opens
doors and cuts the costs of doing business.
We want to seize those
opportunities, and that’s why I announced this week major new
British investments in green infrastructure projects, as well as
trade schemes designed to break down the barriers to doing
business.
This is where the UK is
positioning ourselves post-Brexit, in close alliance with our
European neighbours but also deepening our ties with old friends
in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
More trade, more commerce
brings prosperity and stability to other countries, but it also
cuts costs for British consumers and opens opportunities for UK
businesses - jobs and growth at home.
Unfortunately, that global
prosperity and stability is being threatened by Vladmir Putin’s
unprovoked assault on Ukraine.
Many of the countries
represented here in Kigali today find themselves bearing the
brunt of Putin’s folly, their populations brought closer to
poverty by spiralling food and energy costs.
I know of course, and deeply
appreciate, that many families and businesses in the UK have been
hit hard as well by the rising cost of living.
That is why in our country the
Chancellor has introduced an unprecedented package of financial
support to support the most vulnerable households.
But we should also recognise
the challenges around the world.
The UN estimates that an
additional 48 million people will be pushed into acute hunger
this year – that is, to the point of starvation – caused by
climate change and post-pandemic supply shortages but also by the
war in Ukraine.
I spoke to President Zelenskyy
last week in Kyiv last week about how we can unblock Russia’s
blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports.
But today we are also
announcing a new £372 million package of UK aid.
That funding will support the
UN’s emergency response in the hardest-hit countries, as well as
providing cutting-edge science partnerships to look at
drought-resistant crops and new agricultural techniques.
And as I go tomorrow night to
the G7 in Germany we will also commit to looking at what more
richer countries can do to bring down global commodity prices and
increase food supplies to get the world economy back on track and
stick up for the freedoms in which we all believe.
Thank you very much.
