NAIROBI, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday said his government will continue to prioritize regional integration, intra-African ties, economic diplomacy and global peace and security while exploring new areas of cooperation with international partners.

Kenya, which has been leading peace initiatives in the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa, is still a dedicated partner in ensuring regional and global peace and security, Ruto said.

"Our objective is to forge partnerships that deliver tangible benefits for our people," he said in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, during the annual address to heads of mission and international organizations.

Ruto reiterated that peace and security remain central to Kenya's vision for a stable and prosperous region.

He said the first-ever East African Community (EAC)-Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) joint summit on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) called for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access and a peaceful resolution through the merged Nairobi-Luanda Process.

The Kenyan president, also serving as the EAC chairperson, said that agreements made in the merged Nairobi and Luanda processes, an EAC-SADC-led regional peace initiative aimed at resolving the conflict in the region, should be honored. He also called on international partners to support peace missions in Africa.

Ruto, however, lamented the insufficient funding offered for peace initiatives such as the DRC process, calling for increased resources to allow for effective peacebuilding.

"We must establish a structured and predictable mechanism for funding peace initiatives. I urge states and international organizations to work together to guarantee adequate resources for effective peacebuilding," he said. Enditem

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