Somalilandsun:NAIROBI, 7th May 2018 (PSCU) – The new Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy
Ahmed Ali was this morning formally received by President Uhuru Kenyatta at
State House, Nairobi.
The visiting Prime Minister-who arrived in the country yesterday at the
start of his two day state visit – was accorded full military honours that
included a 19 -gun salute, with the Kenya Defence Forces band playing the
national anthems of Kenya and Ethiopia.
After the arrival ceremonies, the Ethiopian leader signed the distinguished
visitors book before holding a tete-a-tete with his host.
The state visit by the Ethiopian Prime Minister is geared towards
bolstering the existing strong relations between Kenya and Ethiopia.
Bilateral and regional issues are expected to dominate discussions between
the two leaders.
Kenya and Ethiopia have enjoyed strong bilateral relations, deepened
further by the Special Status Agreement between the two countries.
The two countries are key partners in security and peace in the region, and
have both committed time and resources in the fight against terrorism as
well as the fight to bring Somalia to sustainable peace, and the
initiatives to find a lasting solution to the challenges in South Sudan.
“Some matters of particular interest to us are boosting economic
partnerships, and boosting participation in trade and investment by our
private sector,” said State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu in his weekly
media briefing yesterday before the arrival of the Ethiopian leader.
“Therefore, the leaders are likely to review how the implementation of the
Special Partnership Agreement is progressing, and possibly agree on how to
accelerate that,” Mr Esipisu added.
Deputy President William Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries, Chief of Defence Forces
Gen Samson Mwathethe and other senior Government officials were also
present to receive the Ethiopian Prime Minister.
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