To address trade and investment barriers that hinder economic integration efforts in Africa, Egypt and Kenya agreed to intensify efforts to ensure the full and swift implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

They also agreed to establish an Egyptian-Kenyan business council to bolster bilateral ties and explore new trade and investment opportunities.

As for security and counter-terrorism cooperation, the two countries agreed to exchange relevant expertise in counter-terrorism approaches, which cover military, security, intellectual, intellectual, environmental, and developmental dimensions.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to work together to address conflicts in Africa by adopting a comprehensive approach to address the roots causes of these conflicts through regional and international initiatives aimed at building and sustaining peace and development.

Egypt and Kenya have also agreed to enhance bilateral and regional cooperation in the water sector, based on their shared vision for a sustainable management of water resources and for addressing water management challenges posed by population growth, increasing water demands, and climate change.

The two countries have also agreed to hold regular consultations on Nile water issues to promote mutually beneficial relationships among all Nile Basin countries, and ensure that all Nile Basin countries achieve water security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development, without detriment to the interests of any party.

They also underscored the need to maintain their efforts for promoting the core values of the African Union, which are based on the principles of Pan-Africanism.

At the multilateral level, Egypt and Kenya have also emphasized the need to work for advancing the Global South Agenda.

They also agreed on the importance of reforming the UN and other multilateral organizations to make them more representative, effective and capable of responding to current geopolitical realities, threats, challenges and opportunities.

They also affirmed their commitment to the common position of the African Union towards the UN Security Council reform as stipulated in “The Ezulwini Consensus” which calls for Africa to have “not less than two permanent seats” and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council.

Acknowledging the global threats of climate change, with Africa seen as being the most vulnerable to these threats, Egypt and Kenya asserted the urgent need to intensify coordinated efforts to address climate change challenges, especially in the domains of agriculture and food security.

They also stressed the need for a structural and transformative reform of the current climate finance system to make it more responsive, equitable and innovative to effectively deal with any pressing challenges, especially the heavy debt servicing costs incurred by developing countries.

As regards cultural and educational cooperation, Egypt and Kenya renewed their commitment to maintain their efforts for revitalizing and strengthening cooperation and exchanging relevant experience in arts development, cultural events, and heritage preservation.

They also affirmed their commitment to maintain joint efforts for exploring cooperation opportunities in higher education, which covers promoting scholarships opportunities, sharing relevant experiences between educational institutions, and curriculum development.

Finally, the two countries emphasized the importance of building their human and institutional capacities for sustainable social, economic and political development.

They agreed to enhance Kenya's access to the programs offered by Egyptian Agency of Partnership For Development (EAPD) and the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA). (MENA)

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