President William Ruto boards plane/FILE
President William Ruto departs tonight for a State Visit to China, State House has confirmed.
In a press release, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the visit aims to unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and infrastructure.
The trip builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Kenya and China, established in 2017, he said.
Kenya is recognised as China’s top Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner in Africa.
The country has played a key role in regional infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway.
In Beijing, President Ruto will meet President Xi Jinping.
“The two leaders will discuss economic transformation, sustainable development, and global cooperation,” Mohamed said.
Speaking to the Star in Beijing ahead of the President’s visit, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said Kenya hopes to have a more sustainable financing model during the talks, moving away from conventional loan arrangements.
He said the government hopes to convince Chinese authorities to adopt alternatives such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), in light of rising interest rates, a volatile shilling, and mounting loan repayment costs.
In his statement, Mohamed said the President will also officiate the Kenya-China Business Forum.
The forum will bring together more than 100 companies from both nations to explore new opportunities in trade, investment, digital innovation, and industrial growth.
To promote Kenyan agricultural exports, Mohamed said the President will open the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in Fujian Province.
The centre is located in one of China’s major tea regions.
It aims to boost the visibility and market access of Kenyan tea, support smallholder farmers, and expand Kenya’s trade footprint in Asia.
Mohamed said President Ruto will deliver a keynote address at Peking University where he will outline Africa’s vision for inclusive growth, leadership, and South-South cooperation.
“Kenya and China will continue aligning high-quality BRI cooperation with Kenya’s national development priorities,” he said.
The focus will be on building a strong industrial and logistics hub for East Africa.
During his five-day stay in China, Ruto will also engage with Chinese leaders on regional security and multilateral cooperation.
Topics include peace and stability in the Greater Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region.