GABORONE, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Botswana and Kenya seek to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation, Botswana's foreign ministry said Friday in a statement ahead of a three-day state visit by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi to Kenya.
Masisi, according to the ministry of international affairs and cooperation, will undertake a state visit to Kenya from July 22 until July 24 at the invitation Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Botswana and Kenya have a long standing relationship, as illustrated by high-level exchange visits between the two countries.
Kenyatta paid a state visit to Botswana in June 2016.
"During the state visit, the two heads of state will hold bilateral talks with a view to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation in various areas of development including agriculture, trade and investment, tourism, defense and security, health, mining and education," the statement said.
The two leaders will also deliberate on regional and international issues of mutual interest, Unity Dow, Botswana's minister of internationals affairs and cooperation said.
In recognition of the critical role that the private sector plays in the development of the two countries, a high-level business forum involving parastatals and private sector companies from both countries will be convened on the margins of the state visit.
In 2018, Botswana exported goods worth 182, 406 U.S. dollars to Kenya and these goods mostly consisted of vehicles, tractors, articles of textiles and plastics.
