Forging partnerships: Anwar is welcomed by Ruto during the official welcoming ceremony at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya. — Photo from Prime Minister’s Office Facebook page
NAIROBI: Malaysia and Kenya should showcase to the world how strong ties and collaboration can benefit the people of two countries, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said both countries are former colonies of the West and it is time they merge as a forceful voice.
“We are the new voice,” he said at a joint press conference with President of Kenya Dr William Ruto yesterday.
“There is absolutely no reason why a country like Kenya with enormous potential and Malaysia cannot effectively collaborate and benefit from each others’ strengths.
“That is why we have decided to enhance the bilateral relations to strategic partnerships covering all fields of endeavour, not just the traditional area of agriculture, but also in new fields such as technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductors.”
Malaysia will also share its experience through university collaboration and research.
To become a forceful voice, Anwar said both governments need to begin with the management of their countries and economies.
Anwar commended Ruto on his vision, as under his stewardship, the President has propelled not only Kenya’s economy, but its infrastructure to ensure that it emerges as a great nation.
“You are tough,” Anwar told Ruto, which received applause from the delegation.
Meanwhile, Ruto said Malaysia and Kenya reaffirmed commitment to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, expanding Kenyan exports to Malaysia and deepening cooperation in digital technology and high-tech manufacturing.
“The removal of these tariffs is especially significant given the structure of our current trade,” he said.
He said discussions with Anwar reinforced the two countries’ longstanding friendship while charting an ambitious future together.
“We agreed to elevate our bilateral architecture by upgrading it to a strategic bilateral partnership, ensuring that our cooperation advances with purpose and structure.
“This visit comes at a defining moment for Kenya, as we advance a new national roadmap inspired by the experience of Malaysia and other Asian Tigers, nations that rose through discipline, strategy and a commitment to excellence,” he said.
Ruto said he and Anwar also reaffirmed their shared commitments to the reform of the global financial architecture and reform of the United Nations.
Africa, he said, demands two permanent seats on the UN Security Council with full rights, including veto power, as well as two additional non-permanent seats.
“With 54 countries and a population of 1.4 billion people, it is both unfair and undemocratic for the continent to remain excluded from the world’s top decision-making body,” he added.
Anwar and Ruto also held a four-eyed meeting where the leaders discussed the future direction of relations the two countries.
Four memoranda of understanding were exchanged between Malaysia and Kenya during this visit.
They are the MOU on cooperation in the field of tourism; bilateral air services agreement; document of collaboration between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Nairobi City County Government and MOU between Malaysia’s National Chamber of Commerce and Kenya’s National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the State House with a red carpet welcome and was received by Ruto.
This is the first time a Malaysian Prime Minister has visited Kenya since 2007.
