New York: Pakistan and Kenya have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing and deepening their longstanding bilateral relationship. This pledge was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan and President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya at the High-Level Segment of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to Radio Pakistan, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the current state of Pakistan-Kenya relations and agreed on the necessity to build upon the positive trajectory. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation across various sectors, including political, economic, trade, defense, education, and people-to-people exchanges. He highlighted the substantial potential for increasing bilateral trade and investment, particularly in pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical instruments, and agriculture.

Prime Minister Sharif advocated for enhanced interaction between the business communities of both countries and invited Kenyan investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan, especially within Special Economic Zones. He also expressed Pakistan’s interest in boosting engagement with the East African Community.

President Ruto commended Pakistan’s mediation efforts in recent crises in West Asia and the Gulf region. Both leaders underscored the significance of maintaining regular high-level engagements and agreed to strengthen existing mechanisms for bilateral cooperation, such as the Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Ministerial Commission.

The meeting also served as a platform for exchanging views on regional and global developments, with a focus on sustainable development and international peace and security.