China, Africa enhancing partnership

Editor's note: President Xi Jinping held bilateral meetings on Tuesday with African leaders who are in Beijing to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which opens on Wednesday and runs through Friday.

BRI, Kenya Vision 2030 to be better aligned

President Xi Jinping called on China and Kenya on Tuesday to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, in order to advance regional economic and social development and bring benefits to the two peoples.

He made the remark when meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto in Beijing.

Hailing the development of bilateral relations, Xi said that China and Kenya have been at the forefront of Belt and Road cooperation.

Both countries have jointly completed numerous flagship projects to enhance infrastructure connectivity, he said.

Xi called for further aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Kenya Vision 2030 — a long-term development blueprint that aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country and provide a high quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and secure environment by 2030.

He underlined the need for both countries to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy, trade, the digital economy, poverty alleviation and agriculture.

Both nations should continue the tradition of friendship to treat each other as sincere partners based on mutual trust, as well as support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and independently exploring development paths that suit their respective national conditions, Xi said.

He also called on the two countries to work as strategic partners dedicated to upholding fairness and justice, enhance communication and coordination on international and regional issues, safeguard the common interests of the Global South, and promote regional peace and stability.

Ruto said the Kenya-China relationship is built on deep friendship, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual benefit.

BRI projects have significantly boosted Kenya's economic and social development, marking a new chapter in the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, he said.

Kenya looks forward to leveraging the 2024 FOCAC Summit to further advance its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, Ruto added.

Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang also met with Ruto on Tuesday.