On Wednesday, April 16, Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya represented President William Samoei Ruto as Special Envoy in a diplomatic meeting with Pham Chinh, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The talks took place in Hanoi during the 4th Session of the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit. This international summit brings together leaders and experts from around the world to discuss solutions for climate change, green growth, and sustainable development.
CS Tuya’s visit was part of Kenya’s growing interest in strengthening international partnerships, especially with countries that have shown strong economic progress like Vietnam.
During the meeting, CS Tuya underlined Kenya’s desire to build deeper diplomatic relations with Vietnam. She reminded the Vietnamese side of the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Diplomatic and Political Consultations between the two countries, which took place in February.
This agreement marked a major step in establishing regular communication and collaboration between the two governments. Tuya pointed out that there is great potential for cooperation in several important sectors that are also central to President Ruto’s development agenda.
These include defense cooperation, manufacturing, universal health coverage, affordable housing, and food security.
Vietnam, which experienced strong economic growth of 7.09% last year, is seen as a valuable partner for Kenya.
By working together, both nations can share knowledge and resources to improve lives in both regions. CS Tuya emphasized the shared commitment between Kenya and Vietnam to address cross-border challenges such as transnational organized crime.
She also noted with appreciation Vietnam’s support for Kenya’s bid to host the Global Plastics Treaty Secretariat at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi.
This support shows Vietnam’s recognition of Kenya’s leadership on global environmental issues.
Apart from representing Kenya at the P4G Summit, this trip to Vietnam continues CS Tuya’s recent active role in international diplomacy. Just days before, she hosted the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon John Healey, in Nairobi.
That meeting focused on regional peace and security, as well as reviewing the progress of the Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement. These back-to-back engagements reflect the Kenyan government’s effort to position itself as a key player in regional and global partnerships.
The ongoing efforts by CS Tuya show Kenya’s intention to strengthen ties with both developed and emerging economies. With Vietnam’s economic rise and Kenya’s strategic location and environmental leadership, the partnership holds promise for shared growth and stability.
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