President William Ruto is set to embark on a five-day state visit to China from April 22 to 26, aimed at deepening the strategic partnership and enhancing bilateral cooperation between Kenya and the Asian economic powerhouse.
Speaking in an interview with Chinese media outlets ahead of the visit, President Ruto emphasized the long-standing people-to-people relations between Kenya and China, which he noted date back over 600 years. He expressed optimism that the upcoming visit will inject new momentum into the bilateral relationship and help unlock greater development opportunities.
The state visit will focus on concluding ongoing development projects under the China-Kenya partnership and exploring new avenues for economic cooperation. President Ruto will hold talks with his host, President Xi Jinping, with discussions expected to center on issues of mutual interest, including trade, infrastructure development, and governance.
Kenya has been a key partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with the collaboration yielding transformative infrastructure projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Lamu Port, the Mombasa Oil Terminal, and the Nairobi Expressway. These projects have significantly improved Kenya’s connectivity and boosted regional integration within East Africa.
The head of state praised China’s development trajectory, citing its achievements and governance model as offering valuable insights for Kenya and other developing nations.
He also underscored the importance of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a platform to foster stronger ties, build consensus, and tap into untapped potential between China and African countries. “We can use FOCAC to expand our cooperation and create new pathways for trade and mutual growth,” said President Ruto.
The visit is expected to culminate in the signing of several bilateral agreements, further cementing Kenya’s role as a strategic ally of China in the region.
