President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang shake
hands at a briefing after the signing of an agreement on the Standard
Gauge Railway project at State House, Nairobi on May 11, 2014. Looking
on are (from left to right) Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul
Kagame of Rwanda and Salva Kiir of South Sudan. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
In the past 65 years, especially since the adoption of the
reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has recorded tremendous
growth..............................................................................
We have embarked on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a development path that fits China’s reality.
Today,
China enjoys harmony, a prosperous economy and rapidly advancing
science and technology, while the people enjoy a happy life they could
only dream of in the past.
Last year, China’s GDP stood
at 156 times that of 1978, making China the second highest ranking
economy in the world. China’s per capita GDP has also increased 110
times.
Today, China is the biggest trading nation in the world with a total foreign trade volume of $4.16 trillion.
Over
and above this, China has played a constructive role in international
affairs, making a significant contribution to world peace and
prosperity.
China and Africa are closely connected and share similar dreams. China needs Africa, while Africa also needs China.
Indeed, China-Africa cooperation is conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the whole world.
Entering
into the new century, the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation
between China and Africa has constantly achieved remarkable results
under the guidance of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
To
strengthen and deepen the friendship with Africa, China will uphold the
principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith as
proclaimed by President Xi Jinping, and China will also stick to the
“461” cooperation framework proposed by Premier Li Keqiang during his
visit to Africa in May.
The world is deeply concerned
about the Ebola situation in Western Africa. Chinese leaders and people
are sympathetic with the countries affected.
So far,
China has donated emergency aid worth 230 million RMB to the countries
affected by Ebola as well as to relevant international and regional
organisations.
MEDICAL EXPERTS
Besides,
China has sent medical expert to Africa to specifically deal with
Ebola. Today, there are more than 170 Chinese medical experts working in
Western African countries.
Last year, China and Kenya celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Over the past half century, China-Kenya relations have endured the test of time and grown to become even stronger.
In
August last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta visited China. During this
visit, President Xi and President Kenyatta agreed to establish a
comprehensive partnership between our two countries.
In May, Premier Li Keqiang paid a successful visit to Kenya.
In their deliberations, Premier Li and President Kenyatta reached broad
consensus that will further expand China-Kenya relations.
The
two great countries have maintained frequent high-level visits,
deepened political mutual trust and supported each other in
international affairs.
China is now Kenya’s largest foreign financier and second largest trading partner.
The
Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway has become a landmark project in
the development of China-Africa’s three-dimensional transport network.
The bilateral trade volume from January to July this year increased 34 per cent more than during the same period last year.
And imports from Kenya to China increased by more than a third during the same period.
This happened even as the two sides carried out robust people-to-people exchanges.
So far, 2,000 Kenyan students have studied in China under Chinese government scholarships.
Mr Liu is China’s ambassador to Kenya. He delivered a longer version of this speech on Monday, September 29.
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