President William Ruto met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday upon his arrival in China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit. According to Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders discussed various bilateral issues, highlighting the contributions both nations have made in bolstering each other’s economies.
“China and Kenya have jointly undertaken a large number of flagship connectivity projects. They have become strong drivers of local economic and social development and delivered tangibly for the people in both countries.
“China is ready to explore with Kenya more ways to form synergy between the two countries’ development strategies, and further elevate the China-Kenya comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” Chunying said in a statement.
Before departing for China, State House announced that one of President William Ruto’s top priorities was a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation.
President Ruto arrived in China on Monday, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Ruto is among the heads of state attending the high-level Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, which will focus on enhancing the China-Africa partnership.
The summit will take place in Beijing from September 4-6, 2024. FOCAC serves as an official platform for cooperation between China and all African states, except the Kingdom of Eswatini.
During the summit, President Ruto is expected to pursue multi-million-dollar agreements with China, particularly in infrastructure and trade. Meanwhile, Raila Odinga is set to meet with African leaders to garner support for his bid to become the African Union Commission chairperson.
In addition to the summit, Ruto will attend the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference, where he will advocate for increased Chinese investment in Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and technology sectors. Kenya anticipates reaching agreements on key infrastructure projects, including the construction of rural roads, the Nairobi Intelligent Transportation System, and the Bosto Dam Water Supply Project.
