New Delhi: Pledging to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, India and Kenya have stressed on the importance of preventing any support or providing safe havens for terrorists and urged nations to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terrorist entities.
The agreement was made during the second Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between India and Kenya held on Wednesday.
The Indian delegation was led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while the Kenyan delegation was led by the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Monica Juma.
The commission expressed support for the early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). It affirmed that those committing and supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable, according to a statement by the external affairs ministry.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest at regional and multilateral levels including cooperation at the United Nations and other international organizations, counter-terrorism and Indian Ocean Region.
“The Joint Commission condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that there is no justification whatsoever for acts of terrorism. The Commission strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019, in which more than 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. The attack on Dusit Hotel Complex in Nairobi, Kenya on January 15, 2019, also resulted in the loss of 22 people,” the statement said.
The JCM enabled a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship between India and Kenya and also detailed discussions on further strengthening of bilateral cooperation. The discussions focused on building closer cooperation in areas of defense and security, Lines of Credit, capacity building, trade and investment, cultural exchanges and enhancing people to people contact.
The Joint Commission reviewed the progress in projects covered under the Lines of Credits. Both sides agreed to closely monitor the progress of all development projects and address any bottlenecks to expedite the implementation of the projects, it said.
To enhance bilateral trade, both sides agreed to diversify the trade basket. India is the second largest investor in Kenya.
Kenya invited greater Indian investment and business linkages in areas such as agro-processing, food processing, cold-storages, textile, leather, leather products, and ICT sectors, the statement noted.
The Commission evaluated the developments since the first session of the JCM, outcomes of the visits of President of Kenya to India in January 2017, decisions of the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Kenya in July 2016 and the meeting of the Joint Trade Committee co-chaired by the Ministers of Industry and Trade of the two countries in August 2018.
The next session of the Joint Commission will be held in Kenya at mutually convenient dates, the statement further said.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]