President Ruto Attends 9th FOCAC Summit in Beijing

Kenyan President William Ruto is attending the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a significant event focused on mutual development between China and African nations.

The summit, which runs from September 4 to 6 in Beijing, aims to strengthen ties and foster cooperation between the two regions. Ahead of the summit, President Ruto met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the bilateral relationship between Kenya and China.

The discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, trade, investment, and technology development, according to Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“China is ready to explore with Kenya more ways to form synergy between the two countries’ development strategies, and further elevate the China-Kenya comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” Chunying said in a statement.

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President Ruto highlighted several major development plans that were discussed during the meeting.
These include the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as the establishment of the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway.

“We also agreed to discuss regional infrastructure projects such as the expansion of SGR, and the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway,” Ruto wrote on X post.

Additionally,Ruto hinted at potential trade agreements that would allow Kenyan agricultural produce greater access to the Chinese market. Kenya is also seeking new investment agreements in various sectors, including technology and healthcare, as part of its broader strategy to enhance economic ties with China.

The FOCAC Summit is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of China-Africa relations, with Kenya positioning itself as a key partner in the region’s development.