President William Ruto has reiterated Kenya’s commitment to collaborating with China to promote the interests of the Global South on the international stage.
During a public lecture at Peking University as part of his state visit to China, Ruto underscored the significance of South-South cooperation in tackling current challenges such as poverty, climate change, and the reform of international financial systems that often disadvantage developing nations.
“The financial and security architecture that arose out of the ashes of that conflict has largely benefited the Global North at the expense of the Global South with exclusion of he noted.
He stated that this partnership is especially crucial in the context of the need to reform global institutions to make them more representative and effective. He highlighted the necessity of creating a new world order that acknowledges present realities.
The President contended that while both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have evolved into development finance institutions, the ownership and power remain concentrated in the hands of wealthy countries that they no longer serve effectively.
“This anomaly became apparently glaring during the IMF SDR issuance, where 64 per cent of the allocation ended up with wealthy countries that did not need liquidity support. The poorest countries, which needed it most, received only 2.4%,” he said
“Kenya and China are not merely trade partners; we are co-architects of a new world order—one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable,” he asserted.
He praised China’s contribution to the development of Global South countries, emphasizing that Kenya has greatly benefited as a result.
“I wish to commend China for its leadership in renewable energy technologies, particularly in solar power and electric vehicles. Without China, many of these technologies would remain unaffordable for much of the developing world. Today, solar panels, e-bikes, and electric buses are commonplace in African towns. This is what meaningful South–South co-operation looks like,” he stated
“Our co-operation under the Belt and Road Initiative has delivered flagship infrastructure projects, including roads, ports, and the Standard Gauge Railway, infrastructure that is reshaping regional connectivity and integration,” he explained