China, Kenya agree to advance building community with shared future

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi in Beijing. Both sides had exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues and agreed to advance the building of China-Kenya community with a shared future.

Since diplomatic relations were established 60 years ago, China and Kenya have always upheld mutual understanding and mutual support, becoming good partners for win-win cooperation, noted Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The two sides have achieved fruitful results from their pragmatic cooperation, he said, adding that a series of landmark projects under the Belt and Road cooperation, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, have helped Kenya's economic development.

Hailing Kenya for adhering to the one-China principle, Wang said China appreciates Kenya for upholding the basic norm of international relations of non-interference in internal affairs and supporting China's just position and legitimate rights. 

China also firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, and national stability and in advancing its national development, he said, calling for deepening all-round cooperation and pushing China-Kenya relations to a higher level.

Describing Africa as a continent full of hope, Wang also pledged to promote and deepen China-Africa high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and achieve common development and prosperity.

For his part, Mudavadi reiterated that Kenya is willing to continue to unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and stands with China on issues such as Taiwan and human rights.

Kenya looks forward to carrying out closer cooperation with China and opening up a new 60 years of Kenya-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he said.

Both sides spoke highly of the important achievements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and its contribution to Africa's development.

Wang said China has always placed Africa in an important position in the overall diplomatic situation and is willing to take the new round of FOCAC as an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and enhance China-Africa solidarity and coordination.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Horn of Africa, vowing to promote peace and security in Africa.