The Chinese Embassy has announced the removal of visa appointments for Kenyan nationals, effective November 20, 2023, in a move aimed at facilitating smoother travel between the two nations.
The embassy emphasized its commitment to fostering exchanges between China and Kenya.
In a statement released on Monday, the embassy stated, “In order to further facilitate the exchange of China and Kenya, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya will completely cancel visa appointments from November 20, 2023.”
To streamline the process, the embassy directed Kenyans seeking Chinese visas to submit their applications directly to the Visa Application Service Centre in Nairobi, with the reminder that all applications should be made during working hours.
The embassy assured that the processing time and fees for visa applications would remain unchanged.
This development comes after President Ruto’s recent visit to China, marking a significant milestone as Kenya and China celebrate six decades of formal diplomatic relations this year.
During the visit, President Ruto secured several public-private partnership deals, reinforcing the strong and enduring foundation of bilateral relations.
The President’s three-state visit included bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Belt and Roads Summit.
Both leaders acknowledged the rewarding cooperation between the two countries and expressed a commitment to further strengthen their strategic working relationship across various sectors, including social, political, cultural, and economic spheres.