Malaysia and Kenya agree on UN reform and regional peace efforts, with both nations pushing for a more inclusive global system and supporting sustainable urbanisation.
NAIROBI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto have agreed to expand cooperation on sustainable urbanisation and resilient urban development.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional peace, security, and multilateral cooperation.
Anwar said Malaysia appreciated Kenya’s significant role as host to various United Nations agencies.
“We also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the issue of Palestine and Sudan, humanitarian conflict, climate change and the urgent need for reform of the international system to be more inclusive, fair and truly reflect the voice of developing countries,” he said at a joint press conference.
Ruto said both leaders shared a commitment to reforming the global financial architecture and the United Nations.
“We acknowledged Malaysia’s efforts in the East Asian region and Kenya’s peace efforts in East Africa and the Horn of Africa,” he said.
The Kenyan president also expressed support for former US President Donald Trump’s intervention in the Sudan crisis.
He described the situation as having escalated into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ruto emphasised Africa’s demand for two permanent seats on the UN Security Council with full veto powers, plus two additional non-permanent seats.
“With 54 countries and a population of 1.4 billion people, it is both unfair and undemocratic for the continent to remain excluded from the world’s top decision-making body,” he said.
He also conveyed appreciation to Malaysia for supporting the upgrade and expansion of the UN Office in Nairobi.
The Nairobi office is the only UN headquarters presence in the Global South.
Ruto expressed his deepest appreciation to His Majesty King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Prime Minister, the Government, and the people of Malaysia for the important visit.
