President William Ruto will today, Monday, April 21, evening, depart the country for China on a five-day state visit aimed at expanding Kenya’s strategic engagement with Asia’s largest economy.
According to a State House statement to the press, the China trip is expected to yield major agreements in trade, investment, and infrastructure, reinforcing the longstanding ties between Nairobi and Beijing.
The visit marks a continuation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership forged in 2017, with Kenya serving as a key African partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Notably, Kenya’s partnership with China has delivered transformative infrastructure projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway and currently the Talanta City Stadium, which is under construction.
While in China, President Ruto is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss avenues for advancing shared development goals, aligning BRI cooperation with Kenya’s Vision 2030.
A major business engagement will also take place during the visit: the Kenya-China Business Forum, where over 100 companies from both nations will convene to identify new frontiers in investment, trade, technology, and manufacturing.
To deepen agricultural ties, President Ruto will officially open the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in Fujian Province. The facility, located in one of China’s leading tea regions, aims to boost market access for Kenyan tea and provide value chain support to smallholder farmers.
The President will also speak at Peking University, presenting Africa’s aspirations for inclusive growth, innovation, and global equity. He will use the platform to underscore Kenya’s role in driving regional development and fostering stronger multilateral cooperation.
Talks between President Ruto and his host Xi, are also expected to address regional peace and stability, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
