OUAGADOUGOU – Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso’s Minister in charge of Culture and government spokesperson, emphasized the importance of building relationships between nations based on shared cultural values and practices. He made these remarks during an interview with RT, a Russian television channel, while attending the 9th International Cultural Forum in Saint Petersburg.

In his interview, Minister Ouédraogo highlighted the significance of fostering people-to-people relations that are rooted in cultural understanding and shared values, beyond just strategic and military collaborations. He underscored that cultural connections form an essential part of international relationships.

According to Burkina Information Agency, The minister further stated that the Burkinabè government has encouraged all cultural sectors and entities within the country to engage in close collaboration with neighboring countries, particularly Mali and Niger. He cited recent cultural exchanges as examples of this policy in action. Mali, which was the guest country of honor at the last edition of FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou), is hosting a craft fair where Burkina Faso is the guest of honor. Similarly, Niger, previously honored at the Ouagadougou International Tourism and Hospitality Fair, continues to maintain close cultural ties with Burkina Faso.

Minister Ouédraogo expressed optimism about the future of these cultural relationships, noting that current collaborations are progressing extremely well and the prospects appear even brighter. His comments reflect an ongoing commitment to strengthening regional ties in West Africa through cultural diplomacy and mutual understanding.