NAIROBI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto met here Wednesday visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas that advance green agenda, blue economy, infrastructure development, trade, and investment.
The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Japan, which was termed by Ruto as "significant."
"Kenya, the Horn of Africa region, and other parts of the African continent are disproportionately affected by climate change and its effects," Ruto said at a joint news conference with Kishida.
"I call upon Japan and the G7 to lend support to initiatives aimed at addressing climate change, which include the African Climate Action Summit which will take place here in Nairobi between Sept. 4 and 6," Ruto told Kishida.
Ruto said Kenya looked forward to Japan's support towards climate adaptation, addressing loss and damage arising from the phenomenon and unlocking investments required to hasten the transition to a greener future.
He noted that Japan has invested heavily in Kenya's geothermal power development through technology transfer, capacity building, and financial support, adding that Japan's support will be crucial to the implementation of African Union's Agenda 2063, the continent's blueprint for sustainable development, political and social renewal.
He urged Kishida to support diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the Sudan crisis which erupted in mid-April between fighters loyal to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Ruto also said Kenya will address the double taxation problem facing projects funded by Japan's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), a issue that threatens the future of 73.4 million dollar ODA projects in the country.
"We are pursuing the expeditious resolution of this matter within the due process of relevant institutions," he said, noting that it was his wish that ODA projects run smoothly, noting that Kenya is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the assistance in Africa. ■