Kenyan President William Ruto is currently in China for a five-day state visit focused on enhancing bilateral relations, boosting trade and investment, and fostering infrastructure cooperation between the two nations.
The President departed Nairobi on Monday night and is set to participate in the Kenya-China Business Forum, which will bring together over 100 companies from both countries to explore new trade opportunities and attract Chinese investment to Kenya.
During the visit, President Ruto is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji. Discussions will center on economic transformation, sustainable development, and global cooperation, continuing the momentum from the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that Kenya and China established in 2017.
Hussein Mohamed, State House Spokesperson, highlighted that Kenya has played a central role in advancing regional infrastructure through key projects like the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway, which have greatly contributed to the country’s economic growth. This partnership is a key pillar of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), where Kenya stands out as China’s leading partner in Africa.
One of the major highlights of Ruto’s visit is the inauguration of the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in Fujian Province, which is expected to boost the visibility of Kenyan tea in Asia and improve market access for smallholder farmers in Kenya.
The President’s visit also aims to align BRI cooperation with Kenya’s national development priorities, focusing on building a strong industrial and logistics hub for East Africa. The strategic collaboration will encompass areas like infrastructure, healthcare, green energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, all of which are crucial to Kenya’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
As part of the broader partnership, Kenya and China are expected to sign a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which will serve as a framework to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in infrastructure projects such as the Rironi-Malaba Highway, the continuation of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), and the Kenya Digital Infrastructure Project. Ruto will also advocate for increased support to Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and county hospitals.
President Ruto’s visit comes amidst evolving global geopolitical dynamics and underscores Kenya’s role in shaping South-South cooperation. This visit marks his third trip to China, the latest being in September 2024, during the Belt and Road Initiative Forum. China is currently Kenya’s largest trading partner, and the visit is expected to further cement the two countries’ relationship in the global economy.
In addition to trade and investment, discussions will cover regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region, and reform of international financial institutions to make them more inclusive and fair for all countries. Ruto’s delegation includes several cabinet secretaries, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to deepening sectoral partnerships and securing foreign investment across agriculture, health, education, digital trade, the blue economy, and the creative industries, particularly for youth and women.
The outcome of this state visit is expected to contribute significantly to China-Kenya relations and align with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation’s goals, fostering an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.
This visit provides a pivotal platform for Kenya to continue its leadership role in South-South cooperation and assert its influence in shaping a sustainable and inclusive global future.
