Chinese President Xi Jinping Reveals Details of Meeting With William Ruto
The presidency of President William Ruto has maintained a stance of silence regarding specifics regarding the October 18 meeting between the Head of State and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It had been reported before the meeting that Kenya would request Ksh152 billion (approximately USD 1 billion), but State House, Kenya did not specify whether credit negotiations were feasible.
Jinping disclosed excerpts of the discussions that transpired between the two leaders throughout Ruto’s sojourn in China on Tuesday.
Xi stated that while China was investigating additional avenues for collaboration with Kenya, it was unable to commit to providing direct financial aid in the form of a loan.
“China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kenya, expand cooperation in the digital economy, new energy and other fields, and help Kenya realize green development,” Jinping explained the scope of China’s help to Kenya.
Furthermore, Kenya was urged to contribute to the improvement of the trade balance between the two nations using exporting agricultural products of superior quality.
Former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta favored the East for financial assistance; however, since assuming office, President William Ruto has predominantly sought aid from the West and neglected the East.
Xi Jinping stated, seemingly in allusion to this, that Kenya was free to independently investigate its path of modernization by the country’s actual circumstances.
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Following this, it was stated that Kenya ought to be forthright in its dealings with other nations.
“China approaches its relationship with Kenya from a strategic and long-term perspective and is ready to work with Kenya to promote the continued development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
“The two sides need to strengthen communication and collaboration in multilateral settings to practice true multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of developing countries,” Xi Jinping told Ruto.
The motive behind China’s decision to withhold explicit financial support for Ruto, in part, due to doubts regarding Kenya’s multilateralism, was not immediately apparent.
Additionally, the Chinese President emphasized to Ruto that the majority of Kenya’s ambitious infrastructure initiatives had been backed by his nation.
In particular, Jinping informed Ruto that the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the hydrocarbon terminal at Mombasa Port were establishments in Kenya attributable to China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Reveals Details of Meeting With William Ruto