President William Ruto began an official visit to Beijing, China, on Sunday, September 1, 2024, to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
This summit brings together African Heads of State, Chinese leaders, and representatives from the African Union Commission to discuss and strengthen Sino-African relations.
The summit is themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” reflecting the commitment of African nations and China to collaborate on policies and programs that drive industrial and socio-economic development for a prosperous future.
During the summit, President Ruto has been given the honor of co-chairing a session focused on “Pursuing High-Quality Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation: A Platform for Modernisation Featuring Planning, Building, and Benefiting Together” at the High-Level Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) event.
Kenya plays a significant role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with FOCAC being a key component.
Kenya’s involvement in the BRI has led to several transformative infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Nairobi Expressway, the Kipevu Oil Terminal, and various bypasses in Nairobi.
During his visit to Beijing, President Ruto will also participate in a series of high-level meetings and events to strengthen Kenya-China relations and explore new avenues of collaboration.
Key engagements include:
- A meeting with President Xi Jinping to discuss ways to enhance bilateral ties and identify new areas of cooperation between Kenya and China.
- Bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government from various African countries, such as Senegal and Algeria, to promote regional cooperation.
- The China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference: This meeting will provide a platform for African and Chinese business leaders to explore investment opportunities in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, ICT, e-mobility, agriculture, and value addition.
- Meetings with major Chinese corporations: President Ruto will engage with private sector leaders to attract increased investment in Kenya’s infrastructure development, healthcare, and technology sectors.
