Sisi, Kenyan counterpart agree to hold 7th joint committee

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday agreed to hold the seventh session of the Egyptian-Kenyan joint committee meetings, under the two countries' foreign ministers within 2017.

Meeting in Nairobi, the two presidents discussed ways to boost economic relations between the two countries, particularly in the light of their membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The two president held a session of bilateral talks before taking part in an expanded meeting attended by the delegations of the two countries, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said.

Kenyatta said Sisi's visit to Kenya crowns distinguished relations between the two countries and the two peoples, hailing the Egyptian role in supporting the liberation movement in his country and various African states.

He added that the visit also reflects Egypt's keenness on promoting relations with the African countries and restoring its leading status in the continent.

Sisi affirmed keenness on boosting relations with Kenya in various fields, and working together to achieve the common interests of the two countries.

He invited Kenyatta to pay an official visit to Egypt to continue consultation and coordination between the two sides, an invitation that was welcomed by the Kenyan president, who expressed his aspiration to visit Cairo soon.

The two presidents also discussed ways to increase trade exchange, which stood at about $451 million in 2016.

They also reviewed the outcome of the first meeting of the Egyptian Kenyan Business Council, recently held in Nairobi, during which the two countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to one billion dollars over two years through a number of joint projects in various fields.

The two leaders also stressed the importance of activating the agreements already signed between the two sides, and the preparation for the new agreements, particularly in the area of prevention of double taxation and protection of investment, in order to provide the necessary climate for increasing cooperation in the fields of economy and investment.

Kenyatta praised the technical assistance provided by Egypt to support and build capacity of Kenya in various fields, as well as a positive contribution in a number of development projects in health, agriculture and irrigation areas.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to continue providing technical assistance for capacity building and training in Kenya, and welcomed a Kenyan request to provide medical equipment and doctors to the military hospital, currently being built in Nairobi.

He ordered to send a delegation of experts to visit the hospital and stand on its needs at the earliest opportunity.

The Egyptian and Kenyan sides stressed the importance of activating the security cooperation between the two countries in light of their joint war against terrorism, and challenges they face as a result of the growing threat of extremist and terrorist groups.

Sisi affirmed the importance of Al Azhar's role in spreading the true teachings of Islam and countering the extremist ideology.

He welcomed a Kenyan request to receive more imams to be trained by Al Azhar.

The talks also touched upon supporting development efforts in the Nile Basin countries.

The two presidents stressed the importance of continuing to make the best use of the Nile water for all Nile Basin countries, through joint projects of mutual benefit, and without harm to the rights and uses of these countries of the Nile water.

The talks also dealt with regional issues of common concern, especially the situations in South Sudan and Somalia.

The two president stressed the need for continued coordination between them in order to work toward achieving peace and stability in the region.

Source: MENA