Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Kenyan President William Ruto at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2025. Xi held talks with Ruto, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Kenyan President William Ruto in Beijing on Thursday, with the two sides agreeing to elevate their ties to a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.
Noting that the move is a strategic choice for both sides, Xi said that in response to the historical trend
and the trend of the times, China is willing to work with Kenya to create an example in the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,
and lead the development of China-Africa relations
and the forging of solidarity
and cooperation among Global South countries.
China
and Kenya should continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security
and development interests, firmly support each other in exploring development paths that suit their respective national conditions,
and deepen exchanges of experience in state governance, Xi said.
He called on the two sides to enhance regular policy communication, build connectivity at a higher level, promote sustainable trade, explore diversified financial integration, carry forward the friendship forged through generations,
and be leaders in advancing high-quality Belt
and Road cooperation.
Xi said China's supersized market has always kept its door open to high-quality products from Kenya, adding that China encourages more capable Chinese enterprises to invest
and start businesses in Kenya.
As important members of the Global South, China
and Kenya should take concrete actions to firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, promote extensive consultation
and joint contribution for shared benefit in global governance,
and practice true multilateralism, Xi said.
Xi said China is willing to work with African countries, including Kenya, to achieve more early results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to better benefit the African people,
and promote high-quality China-Africa cooperation to lead Global South cooperation.
Stressing that there are no winners in tariff
and trade wars, Xi said China is willing to work with other countries to address various challenges through solidarity
and cooperation, safeguard legitimate rights
and interests, uphold international trade rules,
and maintain international fairness
and justice.
Ruto said Kenya
and China have always adhered to sincere treatment
and mutual benefit
and win-win cooperation,
and are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Kenya firmly adheres to the one-China policy
and insists that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
Ruto expressed gratitude to the Chinese government
and people for their selfless assistance to Kenya's efforts in improving infrastructure
and responding to natural disasters, adding that Belt
and Road projects such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway have effectively promoted Kenya's national development.
He said Kenya is willing to work with China to build a community with a shared future, comprehensively strengthen the synergy between their economic
and social development strategies, strengthen cooperation on trade, investment, infrastructure construction
and science
and technology,
and enhance exchanges in education, culture
and tourism.
Cooperation between Africa
and China is conducive to Africa's peaceful development,
and Kenya is willing to closely coordinate
and cooperate with China to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Ruto added.
Ruto said that trade wars undermine the existing international rules
and order,
and that Kenya appreciates China's role as a stabilizer in the current volatile situation
and China's efforts to safeguard the legitimate rights
and interests of Global South countries.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in areas such as the Belt
and Road Initiative, new
and high technology, people-to-people
and cultural exchanges, economy
and trade,
and media.
The two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China
and the Republic of Kenya on Creating an Inspiring Example in the All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era.
Prior to the talks, Xi
and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for Ruto
and his wife, Rachel Ruto, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.
Xi
and Peng also hosted a welcoming banquet for Ruto
and Rachel in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People at noon on Thursday.
Editor:Evan
