President William Ruto is set to embark on a trip to China from Tuesday, April 22 to April 26.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, Ruto’s visit follows an invitation by President Xi Jinping.
“At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 26,” the statement read.
President Ruto to start his Trip to China from Tuesday Next Week. Photo: Courtesy.
Ruto’s main agenda is to secure new funding for major infrastructure projects, notably the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to the Ugandan border.
Additionally, the visit signals Kenya’s intent to bolster its strategic partnership with Beijing at a time when China continues to expand its influence in Africa through trade, investment, and development financing.
This comes months after Ruto visited Beijing to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
During his visit, he held bilateral talks with Jinping, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening the cooperative partnership between the two nations.
Discussions focused on expanding the SGR from Naivasha through Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville.
China agreed to fund the construction of 15 rural roads in Kenya through a 2 billion Renminbi (RMB) credit facility.
China moreover committed to granting greater access for Kenyan agricultural products, such as avocados, tea, and coffee, to the Chinese market.
During the visit, Ruto also co-chaired the High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation session, where he advocated for reforms in the international financial system.
