President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks with G7 leaders on the sidelines of the summit where he asked most industrialised countries in the world to enhance its collaboration with Africa to address global challenges including poverty, immigration, climate change and terrorism.
The President noted that Africa was a vital partner in solving the world’s most pressing challenges and invited developed nations to help push Africa to next level.
“This is the time to put Africa's aspirations at the heart of your plans. A freer, more prosperous Africa is a vital partner in solving some of the world's most pressing problems: poverty, immigration, climate change, terrorism,” President Kenyatta stated.
In his separate meetings on the margins of the G7 Summit in Taormina, Italy, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, host Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and newly elected President Emmanuel Macron of France., the President focused on forging a closer cooperation in trade, investment, security, technology-sharing and development.
During his meeting with President Kenyatta, Japanese Prime Minister Abe thanked Kenya for hosting a successful TICAD conference in 2016.
Prime Minister Abe informed President Kenyatta of Japan’s intention to support South Sudan through its official development aid. He expressed a desire to continue working with Kenya at the multilateral level.
The meeting between President Kenyatta and Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni discussed cooperation in security, fighting terror and maritime matters. They also discussed increasing the volume of Kenyan exports to Italy, which currently include coffee, tea, hides and skins, fish, leather, fruits and vegetables, and cut flowers.
With Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, President Kenyatta discussed support for health care, democracy, investments, and innovation. President Kenyatta extended an invite to the Canadian Prime Minister to visit Kenya.
At the meeting with Chancellor Merkel, President Kenyatta emphasised strengthening ties between Kenya and Germany. Chancellor Merkel took the opportunity to officially invite President Kenyatta to attend the G20 Summit in July.
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President Kenyatta also held talks with President Macron of France and discussed investment, migration and trade. The President congratulated new elected France Head of State Macron on his election victory.
The President jetted back in the country on Sunday morning accompanied with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and were received by Senior Government officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
