WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed Washington’s six-decade-old business and political alliance with Kenya as he looked to bolster a key ally seen as a buffer to Chinese and Russian influence in Africa.

During an elaborate welcome ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn that included the two leaders reviewing U.S. military troops, Biden hailed Kenyan President William Ruto’s cooperation on combating violent extremist groups like ISIS and al-Shabab, as well as for taking steps to curb the impacts of climate change. But, like during more informal meetings on Wednesday, the U.S. president made clear that deepening the countries’ business ties was perhaps the biggest focus of the state visit.

“Today, as we begin the next decade of our partnership, we’ve launched a new initiative to bring our countries, companies and communities closer,” Biden said. “Because the past is our proof that we are stronger, and the world is safer, when Kenya and the United States work together.”

The ceremony marked the start of the first state visit by an African leader in nearly two decades. The last time was during George W. Bush’s second term, when he hosted Ghana’s John Kufuor in September 2008.

U.S. officials see Kenya has an economic and political buffer against the increased footprint of China and Russia in eastern Africa. Biden is scheduled to fete Ruto and other Kenyan officials during a state dinner Thursday evening on the White House’s South Lawn, complete with more than 1,000 candles, views of the Washington Monument and a menu that includes a chilled green tomato soup, beef short ribs, lobster and banana ganache.

The two leaders discussed a range of issues during two days of meetings at the Executive Mansion, including a roundtable with business leaders on Wednesday. The U.S. president used that event to note the history of American-Kenyan relations, saying, “Nowhere is it more important than the realm of innovation. That’s why we have so many business leaders around this table.”

Biden said Wednesday he would fulfill a 2020 campaign promise to visit Africa — if he is reelected this year. “I plan to go in February after I am reelected,” he told reporters.

Here are three other takeaways from the Biden-Ruto meetings and their joint news conference.

‘Deal with the debt’

White House officials said this week that many of the new business deals between the two countries should be finalized in the coming months. Perhaps the most notable announcement, called “deliverables” in diplomatic circles, was Biden’s announcement of a new joint effort to help developing countries deal with mounting debt.

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