China-Kenya pact to bolster win-win cooperation
When the People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, life expectancy in China was around 35 years.
Now it has risen to over 78 years. Over that time, China has built one of the largest education, social security and healthcare systems in the world. 74 years ago, China did not have the capacity to manufacture even a tractor. Today, its manufacturing sector is the largest in the world. China has remained the world’s second largest economy since 2010.
Working under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the resilient Chinese people have blazed a trail of socialism with Chinese characteristics and embarked on an epic journey toward national rejuvenation. Since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has continued to recover on a generally sound rebound track.
China enjoys several distinct advantages; a socialist market economy in systemic terms, a super-size market in terms of demand, a full-fledged industrial system in terms of supply, and, abundant, high-caliber labour force and entrepreneurs in terms of human resources. The fundamentals sustaining China’s sound economic growth in the long run stay unchanged. On September 26, China released a white paper titled A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions. The idea of building a global community of shared future was propounded by President Xi Jinping ten years ago. It answers a question raised by the world, by history, and by the times: “Where is humanity headed?”
His proposal lights the path forward as the world fumbles for solutions, and represents China’s contribution to global efforts to protect our shared home and create a better future of prosperity for all.
Over the past decade, China has contributed its strength to building a global community of shared future with firm conviction and solid actions. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an example of building a global community of shared future. The BRI originated in China, but the opportunities and achievements it creates belong to the world.
Kenya is an important partner in Belt and Road cooperation. Our fruitful cooperation stands out in China-Africa cooperation. Kenya actively participated in the first Belt and Road Forum in 2017 and the second in 2019. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Kenya diplomatic relations. Over the past 60 years, China and Kenya have treated each other as equals, supported each other, pursed revitalisation through solidarity, and have been good friends with political mutual trust and good partners with economic win-win cooperation.
Under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President William Ruto, China-Kenya relations have sustained strong momentum for growth and opened a new chapter of China-Kenya friendship and cooperation. China firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding sovereign independence and national dignity, supports Kenya in following a development path suited to its national conditions, and supports Kenya in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs.
It is ready to work with Kenya to jointly act on multilateralism, defend the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and the common interests of developing countries; advance the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, and safeguard regional peace and development.
China stands ready to work with Kenya to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point to deepen traditional friendship, align both countries’ strategies for revitalisation, and strengthen win-win cooperation. Together, we will bring the China-Kenya comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level in the new era and deliver greater benefits to the people of both countries.
— The writer is the is the Ambassador of China to Kenya
