President William Ruto is scheduled to depart for Beijing on Sunday evening to attend the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Ruto will join other heads of state at the high-level summit, which will focus on enhancing the China-Africa partnership. The summit is set to take place in Beijing from September 4-6, 2024. FOCAC serves as an official forum between China and African nations, with the exception of the Kingdom of Eswatini. It is the main multilateral coordination platform between African countries and China and has been recognized as a key cooperation platform within the Belt and Road Initiative since 2018.
This visit marks Ruto’s first overseas trip since a wave of Gen Z-led protests swept across the country. The president’s last trip outside Africa was during the inaugural Korea-Africa summit on June 4, 2024. The youth-led protests, which began on June 18 in opposition to the controversial Finance Bill 2024, led to Ruto dismissing his entire Cabinet and forming a new one under a broad-based government.
Ruto’s only other international trip during this period was to attend the inauguration of President Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.
Speaking in Bungoma on Sunday, Ruto confirmed his upcoming departure, stating that the visit aims to explore development opportunities for Kenya. The summit in Beijing is expected to include discussions on partnerships in areas such as green energy, internet connectivity, and political alliances between China and African countries.