Kenyan president seeks to boost bilateral ties with Burundi

Source:Xinhua Published: 2012-7-1 11:07:26

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will travel to Burundi on Sunday for a three-day State visit to attend Independence Golden Jubilee and also seek ways of boosting bilateral ties.

A statement issued in Nairobi from the presidency on Saturday, said while in Bujumbura, President Kibaki will join Burundians, invited guests and other dignitaries for the country's 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

"The Head of State is also scheduled to meet the Burundian House Speaker and President of the House of Senate before addressing the country's National Assembly," the statement said.

The two countries late last year signed a comprehensive bilateral agreement to promote development and technology transfer in agriculture, livestock and fisheries development between them.

The MoU which was signed in Bujumbura in November 2011 between East Africa Community ministers was aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in higher education, science and technology.

The statement said the Kenyan leader is also expected to hold bilateral talks with his host President Pierre Nkurunziza and witness signing of agreements of cooperation before launching the Kenya-Burundi Business Forum.

The two countries have identified the major areas of cooperation as tailor-made courses in agricultural management; research in improvement of tea, coffee and palm oil production; assistance in the establishment of macadamia nuts industry, and; training of Burundi students in Kenya's agricultural institutions at local fees.

In the area of livestock development, the two countries agreed to promote livestock production through cooperation in livestock breeding by way of sharing breeding materials through artificial insemination, embryo transfers and other relevant technologies.

The two East African countries also agreed to extend cooperation to exchange of any pertinent material for advancement of cultural relations and promotion of understanding between the peoples of both countries.

Burundi gained her independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962, and two months later joined the United Nations. In 2007, the country along with Rwanda became members of the East African Community (EAC).

EAC, whose current chairman is President Kibaki, is a regional bloc of five countries- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi with a combined population of 125 million people.

EAC Heads of State signed protocols for removal of trade barriers to create a common market and allow free movement of people, goods and capital across borders, furthering the region's dream of broad political unification.



Posted in: Africa

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