ForMin Aurescu and Kenyan counterpart Omamo discuss economic relation, health crisis

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu had a telephone conversation on Wednesday with Kenyan counterpart Raychelle Omamo, at the request of the Kenyan side, a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs. According to the quoted source, the two foreign ministers had an exchange of views on the development of the novel coronavirus pandemic in Romania and Kenya, as well as on the social and economic effects and on the measures adopted by both states in the current context. They shared the belief that "the main lesson of this crisis is to raise awareness of the importance of solidarity at international level and reviewed the global initiatives to combat the pandemic, with a focus on the ones regarding research and efforts to develop a vaccine." Thus, in the context of the cooperation between Europe and Africa to overcome the challenges generated by the pandemic context, the Romanian official brought to mind the European Union's latest support announced for Kenya, under the aegis of Team Europe, which Romania also endorsed, aimed at combating the effects of the current health crisis. In respect to the bilateral relations, Minister Bogdan Aurescu voiced the Romanian side's openness and commitment to stimulate and strengthen cooperation with Kenya, aimed at boosting economic relations and continuing with sectorial aspects, such as agriculture or the phytosanitary area. Minister Bogdan Aurescu highlighted Romania's availability to carry out experience exchanges and cooperation programmes at the level of law enforcement and combating organised crime and terrorism. Moreover, he encouraged cooperation in the education and academic areas, including through stimulating Kenyan students' interest in university studies in Romania. Furthermore, he proposed the renewal of the bilateral legal framework, by completing ongoing negotiations for several agreements between Romania and Kenya. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)