China, Kenya agree to step up cooperation, promote bilateral ties

China and Kenya agreed to enhance pragmatic cooperation and further promote bilateral ties as China's top political advisor Wang Yang visited the eastern African country from Saturday to Tuesday.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (L) meets with Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Nairobi, Kenya, June 19, 2018. Wang visited Kenya from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Justin Muturi, speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya. [Photo: Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

During his meeting with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), hailed the robust development of bilateral ties.

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kenyatta lifted the China-Kenya ties to comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in May 2017, blueprinting a bright future for bilateral ties.

Calling China-Kenya cooperation "a good example" of China-Africa cooperation, Wang said he has fully felt the vigor and vitality of Kenya's economic and social development and the strong momentum of China-Kenya cooperation during the visit.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kenya. Wang called on both countries to further deepen political mutual trust and enhance synergy of their development strategies.

He also called on the two countries to provide firmer support to each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, promote high-level cooperation in more areas and intensify coordination on international and regional affairs.

Wang said new measures leading China-Africa cooperation in the new era will be announced during the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September to boost China-Africa win-win cooperation.

He extended welcome to Kenyatta for the attendance of the summit.

Hailing the solid political mutual trust and win-win cooperation between the two countries, Kenyatta said Kenya has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative and gained substantial benefits.

Kenya firmly supports China in hosting a successful FOCAC summit, said Kenyatta, adding that his country stands ready to strengthen exchange of high-level visits and dovetail development strategies.

He said Kenya welcomes China to expand cooperation in areas including investment, economy and trade and tourism so as to develop an even stronger comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation with China.

Wang Yang (C), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visits the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya, June 17, 2018. Wang visited Kenya from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Justin Muturi, speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya. [Photo: Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

During his talks with Justin Muturi, speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, Wang expressed his appreciation to Muturi for inviting the CPPCC delegation.

Wang said Kenya is an important stop of his current three-nation African tour, which has taken him to the Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The aim of his visit to Kenya is to well implement the important consensus reached by Xi and Kenyatta, and strengthen interactions between the CPPCC and relevant bodies of Kenya, said Wang.

He introduced the multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expecting the CPPCC and the National Assembly of Kenya to give full play to each other's advantages in order to promote bilateral economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Muturi said the National Assembly of Kenya staunchly supports the two countries in developing pragmatic cooperation on an equal footing.

Noting that every country has the right to choose its own political system and development path, he said Kenya and China have always respected each other's choices and been real good friends and partners.

The National Assembly of Kenya stands ready to strengthen exchange of visits with China's National People's Congress and the CPPCC and help to complement and boost bilateral ties, Muturi said.

During his meeting with Kenya's Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, Wang said the CPC and the ruling Jubilee Party of Kenya have both made bright plans for the two countries' development and shouldered historical responsibilities to develop national economies, improve people's livelihood and wipe out poverty.

He called on both parties to boost exchange of experience on party-building to improve internal cohesion and capabilities.

The CPPCC is willing to work with the Senate of Kenya to promote economic, cultural and local exchanges in the hope of consolidating the social and public will's foundation of China-Kenya friendship, Wang said.

Lusaka spoke highly of the unique role that the CPPCC has played in advancing the Kenya-China and Africa-China cooperation.

The Jubilee Party of Kenya would like to learn from the experience of the CPC and promote its governing and leadership, said Lusaka.

During his four-day stay in Kenya, Wang visited the Nairobi Terminus of the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting Kenya's port city of Mombasa and its capital Nairobi.

Wang also visited the Maramba tea factory and the first Sino-African Joint Research Center, and met with representatives of Chinese enterprises and media outlets in Kenya.

Kenya is the last stop of Wang's 10-day African tour starting on June 11.