INDIA– Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale who is on a working visit to India, on Tuesday held meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Hon. Dr. S Jaishankar at his office in New Delhi.

They discussed wide range of issues including strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of economic development, trade, investment and defence.

Regional and global peace and security also took a centre stage in the discussion.

“We deliberated on a number of areas that our two countries can cooperate in to speed our economic growth and strengthen our mutual ties. These areas included trade, investment, defence, regional and global peace and security.” said Duale.

According to a statement carried on his social media platforms, Duale noted that they agreed on the current reforms on membership at the United Nations Security Council, where Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America are poised to have membership to the council.

The CS added that they underlined the importance of peace and security and role of UN peace keeping missions.

The two officials also came into terms on the need for reforms of the International Financial Architecture on resource mobilization, fair and equity in distributions.

Duale expressed confidence that Kenya stands a pivotal chance in advancing and bolstering cooperation with India in different facets mutually beneficial to both sides

“Further, we agreed on the need for reforms of the International Financial Architecture on resource mobilization, fair and equity in distributions. We discussed the importance of peace and security and role of UN peace keeping missions.” said the CS.

During the meeting, the CS was accompanied by Kenya’s Ambassador to India, H.E Willy Bett, Brig E. Rugendo (Chf SP&P, Dhq) and Col. S. Mwakale (DA to India).

Duale is in a three-day visit to New Delhi and is being hosted by his Indian counterpart, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and is scheduled to tour Indian shipyards and Defence industries in Goa and Bengaluru as per India’s Ministry of Defence.

” The visiting dignitary is expected to visit Indian shipyards and Defence industries in Goa and Bengaluru during his stay,” the Indian Defence Ministry said in its statement.

The inaugural trip by the CS to India represents the most significant individual political visit from Kenya since the Kenya Kwanza government assumed leadership in September 2022.

Kenya and India maintain a good working diplomatic relations spanning for over years.