By Lerte Tellah- Nairobi
President William Ruto has arrived in Beijing to participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. Accompanied by First Lady Rachael Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he expressed optimism about strengthening ties between Africa and China.
“The meeting presents an opportunity for Africa to renew and strengthen its partnership with China,” Ruto stated upon arrival on Monday evening. He highlighted China’s role as a significant development partner, particularly in enhancing Africa’s infrastructure, and expressed eagerness to build on these connections to further accelerate the continent’s growth.
The FOCAC Summit, scheduled from September 4-6, 2024, will gather various African heads of state in Beijing to focus on improving China-Africa relations. The forum serves as a platform for China and all African states, except the Kingdom of Eswatini, to collaborate on mutual interests.
During the summit, Ruto is expected to seek multi-million-dollar agreements with China, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and trade. Meanwhile, Raila Odinga is set to meet with African leaders to garner support for his candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson position.
According to State House, one of Ruto’s main objectives is to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss deepening bilateral relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
Additionally, Ruto will participate in the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference, where he plans to advocate for increased Chinese investment in Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and technology sectors.
Kenya aims to secure agreements on several key projects, including the construction of rural roads, the Nairobi Intelligent Transportation System, and the Bosto Dam Water Supply Project. Discussions will also cover extending and completing phases 2B and 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway, expanding the Nairobi Northern Bypass, and other critical infrastructure projects.
