President William Ruto has arrived in Beijing to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, a significant event aimed at fortifying the relationship between African nations and China.

The summit, which gathers African Heads of State, Chinese leaders, and representatives from the African Union Commission, will focus on enhancing Sino-African relations under the theme "Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future."

Upon his arrival, President Ruto expressed optimism about the opportunities the summit presents, stating, "The meeting presents an opportunity for Africa to renew and strengthen its partnership with China."

"Over the years, China has proven to be a true development partner, significantly revamping our infrastructure. We look forward to leveraging these ties to accelerate our transformation," Ruto added.

President Ruto’s role in the summit is particularly noteworthy as he has been chosen to co-chair a session titled "Pursuing High-Quality Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation: A Platform for Modernisation Featuring Planning, Building, and Benefiting Together."

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This session is part of the High-Level Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) event, a cornerstone of China’s international cooperation strategy that has seen Kenya emerge as a crucial partner.

Kenya’s involvement in the BRI has already led to transformative infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Nairobi Expressway, and the Kipevu Oil Terminal, among others.

During his visit, President Ruto will participate in a series of high-level meetings designed to deepen Kenya-China relations and explore new avenues for cooperation.

These engagements include a pivotal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and fostering new areas of collaboration.

Additionally, Ruto will hold bilateral meetings with other African leaders, such as those from Senegal and Algeria, to bolster regional cooperation.

Moreover, President Ruto will attend the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference, a key platform for business leaders from both regions to explore investment opportunities in various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, ICT, e-mobility, agriculture, and value addition.

He will also engage with leading Chinese corporations to encourage increased investment in Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and technology sectors.

The outcomes of the FOCAC Summit are expected to be substantial for Kenya.

These include the Beijing Declaration by participating Heads of State and an action plan outlining cooperative efforts for the period from 2025 to 2027.

For Kenya, the anticipated benefits of President Ruto’s visit are manifold. These include the strengthening of the strategic partnership with China, with both nations committing to building a shared future.

Specific agreements are expected to support infrastructure development, including the construction of rural roads, the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System, the Bosto Dam Water Supply Project, and the upgrading of equipment in technical and vocational training (TVET) workshops.

Additionally, discussions are anticipated to conclude on the extension and completion of critical infrastructure projects, such as the SGR's phases 2B and 2C, and the dualling of the Nairobi Northern Bypass.

Further talks will commence on establishing a pharmaceutical park, as well as on Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA) and Investment Protection Agreements (IPA).

China remains one of Kenya's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade volumes surpassing Sh1.04 trillion (approximately $8 billion) between 2022 and 2023.

This visit by President Ruto is expected to reinforce efforts to diversify projects, covering sectors such as agriculture, food security, the creative economy, e-commerce, manufacturing, health, environmental conservation, and financial services.

These initiatives align with Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, aiming to create more job opportunities for Kenyan youth and women.