Co-operation between China and Kenya bears fruits

In the last 65 years, especially since adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has recorded tremendous growth.

We have embarked on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a development path that fits China's reality and have continuously made remarkable accomplishments.

Today, China enjoys a harmonious society, prosperous economy and rapidly advancing science and technology, while the Chinese enjoy the happy life they yearned for generations.

Last year, China's GDP stood at 156 times more than in 1978, ranking number two in the world. Per capita GDP has also increased 110 times.

Today, China is the biggest trading nation in the world with a total foreign trade volume of $4.16 trillion.

Over and above this, China has played a positive and constructive role in international affairs, making significant contribution to world peace and prosperity.

Last year, the third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of CPC made a historic decision to deepen the reform comprehensively, with economic system reform at the core and paying more attention to coordinated reforms in other areas including politics, culture, ecology and social development. By 2020, decisive results will have been achieved in reforming crucial segments.

This year, GDP increased by 7.4 per cent, a good momentum that ensured steady economic growth with improved quality of life.

We are confident China will realise the two centenary goals, namely, to double GDP and per capita income for urban and rural residents and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects when the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2020, and turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious, and realise the Chinese Dream of the great renewal of the Chinese nation when the People's Republic of China marks its centennial in the middle of this century.

The Chinese people are perpetually endeavouring to realise the Chinese Dream. Africa is also working hard on its Agenda 2063, towards achievement of the grand African Dream in the next 50 years.

China and Africa are closely connected heart to heart and share similar dreams.

The development of China needs Africa, the development of Africa also needs China. Indeed, China-Africa cooperation is conducive not only to China and Africa, but also to the peace, stability and prosperity worldwide.

Entering into the new century, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa has constantly achieved remarkable results under the guidance of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation.

To strengthen this reliable friendship with Africa, China will uphold the principle of Sincerity, Real Results, Affinity and Good Faith proclaimed by President Xi Jinping, and China will also stick to the "461" co-operation framework proposed by Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Africa this May.

Last year, China and Kenya celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Over the past half century, China-Kenya relations have endured the test of time and become even stronger.

In August last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta made his maiden State visit to China. During this visit, President Xi Jinping of China and President Kenyatta agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

In May, Li Keqiang, paid a visit to Kenya. He and President Kenyatta reached broad consensus that will further expand China-Kenya relations.

They graced the signing of 17 co-operation pacts covering development of infrastructure, agriculture, finance, science and technology, environmental protection and wildlife conservation.

China now is Kenya's largest foreign financier and second largest trading partner. The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway has become a landmark project in the development of China-Africa's three-dimensional transport network.

Bilateral trade volume from January to July increased 34 per cent more than during the same period last year.

And on a promising note, imports from Kenya to China increased by more than a third during the same period.

This happened even as the two sides carried out robust people-to-people exchanges. So far, there have been over 2,000 Kenyan students studying in China under the sponsorship of the Chinese government scholarship.

China has set up four Confucius Institutes and one Confucius Class in Kenya. Soon to be established in Nairobi is the first-ever China-Africa Joint Research Centre to promote ecological and environmental cooperation.