STORY: Kenya, Ethiopia ink deals to enhance bilateral ties
SHOOTING DATE: Feb. 28, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 29, 2024
LENGTH: 00:05:24
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of two leaders meeting 
2. various of the venue
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ABIY AHMED, Ethiopian Prime Minister

STORYLINE:

Kenya and Ethiopia on Wednesday signed seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
   
The MoUs, which were inked in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after bilateral talks between President William Ruto of Kenya and visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, include cooperation in cultural development, tourism and wildlife, the blue economy, correctional services, petroleum, and energy development, and capacity building in the public service.
   
In a joint communique, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in other sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, transport, ICT, health, and forestry in efforts to meet national aspirations for socioeconomic growth and also actualize the African Union's Agenda 2063.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
"I believe that we are now ready to take the next step in making Kenya-Ethiopia partnership a beacon of transformative possibility, and a force of good in our region and our continent. Recalling our discussions and reflecting on the instruments that we have developed as well as the business transacted on our behalf by senior officials at the commission, there is a reason for us to be confident that Kenya and Ethiopia are moving together in the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and strategic partnership to actualize the immense possibilities that lie before us for peace and security as well as economic transformation and shared prosperity between our people."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ABIY AHMED, Ethiopian Prime Minister
"Everyone is witnessing the friendship, the brotherly attitude towards Ethiopia from our brotherly country Kenya. It's a demonstration that these two countries do not have any baggage to strengthen our relationship also to go forward with multifaceted and ambitious economic plans that both countries have. The relationship between the two countries would also be a role model for others to follow and to walk hand in hand to liberate Africa not only politically but also economically."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)