UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the official signing of a deal for peace and prosperity between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, his spokesperson said Friday.

The UN chief emphasized that the agreement represents a critical step towards restoring trust between the DRC and Rwanda and in advancing efforts for lasting peace in eastern DRC, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Dujarric said the secretary-general also welcomed the significant progress made under both the Doha and the African Union-led processes, and he urged all parties to honor the commitments they have undertaken.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that the United Nations, including the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), stands ready to continue supporting all efforts towards sustainable peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region," he said.

On Thursday, the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace deal in Washington, D.C., aimed at ending the decades-long conflict in eastern DRC.