China, Kenya Pledge to Deepen Belt and Road Cooperation

Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday met here with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, with both sides pledging to deepen Belt and Road cooperation.

Ruto asked that Wang, who is also the director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, greet Chinese President Xi Jinping on his behalf.

Ruto noted that since Kenya and China established diplomatic connections 60 years ago, relations between the two countries have been progressing peacefully.

He added that all sectors of the country now agree that friendly cooperation with China should be strengthened.

Ruto lauded China’s efforts to strengthen ties with Kenya based on the idea of respect for one another. In order to advance connectivity and regional integration in Africa and produce win-win outcomes, Kenya is steadfastly committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.

The country is also willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges and deepen cooperation in sectors like renewable energy, transport by rail, and water conservation.

From a strategic standpoint, China views its relationship with Kenya, and it is willing to cooperate with Kenya to use the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as a fresh starting point for aligning their revitalization strategies with a focus on development and cooperation, Wang said.

This will help them take their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level in the new era.

According to Wang, the two sides should promote exchanges between governments and political parties in a variety of spheres, build political mutual confidence between their leaders, and reinforce their strategic leadership.

He continued by saying that China fully supports Kenya in preserving its national honor and sovereignty, combating terrorism, and following a growth trajectory consistent with its own national circumstances.

In order to assist Kenya in advancing its economic and social development and promote regional integration in Africa, Wang said that China is willing to actively promote cooperation with Kenya in the fields of railway, highway, aviation, information, and others while jointly advancing Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, and the “nine programmes” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

China stands ready to work with Kenya to practice multilateralism, preserve the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and the common interests of developing countries, promote the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa and safeguard regional peace and development, Wang said.

Wang also met with Alfred Mutua, the cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, on the same day.