President Uhuru Kenyatta expects China visit to boost relations

By Kazungu Chai

President Uhuru Kenyatta expects his State visit to China to propel Kenya’s bilateral relations with the Asian economic giant to a special partnership.

A “special partnership” is the closest diplomatic collaboration between two countries and only a few states usually enjoy this status.

President Kenyatta said Kenya will seek greater cooperation with China in infrastructural development, among other key projects. He singled out construction of the standard-gauge railway line and building of airports as areas that will be given prominence.

“We are really looking forward to our meeting with our counterparts in China. We hope to strengthen the bilateral relations between our countries,” the President said in an interview, looking forward to his meeting later on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Kenyatta is in China with a high-powered delegation that includes Cabinet secretaries in the technical areas like the National Treasury, industrialization and enterprise development, energy and petroleum, and environment – areas in which Kenya will sign new partnership agreements with China.

China is considered Kenya’s most important bilateral partner. The President said his arrival in China, on his first state visit outside Africa, was a clear indication of China’s place in Kenya’s economic growth plans.

“As Kenyans very well know, as a country, we have benefitted greatly from Chinese investment especially in infrastructure. The road and transmission lines we are developing have all been as a result of our partnership with China,” the President said.