President William Ruto is set to embark on a state visit to China from Tuesday, April 22 to 26.
In a statement on Thursday, April 17, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya said Ruto's visit follows an invitation by President Xi Jinping.
"At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 26," the statement read.
Key on Ruto’s agenda is securing new funding for major infrastructure projects, notably the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to the Ugandan border.
Additionally, the visit signals Kenya's intent to bolster its strategic partnership with Beijing at a time when China continues to expand its influence in Africa through trade, investment, and development financing.
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The trip also unfolds against the backdrop of an intensifying trade war between China and the United States, two of Kenya’s major economic partners.
This comes six months after Ruto visited Beijing to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, marking a significant milestone in Kenya-China relations.
During his visit in September 2024, he held bilateral talks with Jinping, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening the cooperative partnership between the two nations.
Discussions focused on expanding the SGR from Naivasha through Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville.
China agreed to fund the construction of 15 rural roads in Kenya through a 2 billion Renminbi (RMB) credit facility, aiming to improve rural connectivity and market access for farmers.
Additionally, China committed to granting greater access for Kenyan agricultural products, such as avocados, tea, and coffee, to the Chinese market.
During the visit, Ruto also co-chaired the High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation session, where he advocated for reforms in the international financial system.
He urged China to support increased contributions by multilateral development banks to provide low-interest financing for African nations.
“I urge all my colleagues to participate in this endeavour so as to position Africa’s perspective and ideas appropriately in global discourse,” he said.
