Kenya, Slovakia to set up joint commission to enhance bilateral ties

Kenya and Slovakia are set to constitute a joint commission of cooperation to help promote bilateral trade between the two countries.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who held talks in Nairobi on Wednesday with visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak, said the joint commission will help the two countries deepen relations.

"President Kenyatta said Kenya, which is implementing devolution, has a lot to learn from the decentralized system of government in Slovakia. The Slovak Republic has been in devolution for the last 15 years," said a statement issued after the meeting.

Kenyatta also acknowledged continued official development assistance from the Slovak Republic in areas of health, women empowerment and upgrading of slums. Kenya is the main recipient of development aid from the Slovak.

Lajcak, who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, said he looked forward to widened and deepened relations between the two countries.

Data from the ministry of foreign affairs indicates that Kenya's exports amounted to 110,000 U.S. dollars to Slovakia in 2011, while imports reached 5.89 million dollars in the same period.

The government records also show that Kenyan exports included ornamental carvings, furniture and textile products while imports consisted of paper products, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel and rubber products.

Statistics from the Slovak embassy in Kenya indicates that approximately 2,000 of their nationals visit Kenya annually.

译文如下：

肯尼亚与斯洛伐克将建立联合委员会来加强双边关系

肯尼亚和斯洛伐克将合作建立一个联合委员会以促进两国间的双边贸易。

肯尼亚总统乌胡鲁·肯雅塔于周三在内罗毕与斯洛伐克副总理米罗斯拉夫·莱恰克举行会谈时表示,建立联合委员会将有助于深化两国关系。

“肯雅塔总统说,肯尼亚实行权力下放, 需要向斯洛伐克分散的政府体系中学习很多。斯洛伐克共和国已经在过去15年里实行权力下放。”在会后发表的声明中说道。

肯雅塔同时也承认斯洛伐克共和国持续的官方发展援助包括健康领域、妇女赋权和升级贫民窟。肯尼亚是斯洛伐克发展援助的主要接受者。

同时也身为外交和欧洲事务部长的莱恰克说,他期待着扩大和深化两国关系。

来自外交部的数据表明, 2011年肯尼亚对斯洛伐克的出口达11万美元，而进口额达到589万美元。

政府记录还显示,肯尼亚出口产品包括装饰雕刻,家具和纺织品，而进口产品则包括纸制品、医药、钢铁、橡胶制品。

斯洛伐克驻肯尼亚大使馆的统计数据表明,每年大约有2000多人访问肯尼亚。