President William Ruto is in China for a five-day state visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations, boosting trade and investment, and expanding infrastructure cooperation between Kenya and the Asian economic powerhouse.
The President departed Nairobi on Monday night and will headline the Kenya-China Business Forum, a high-level gathering that brings together over 100 companies from both countries. The forum aims to unlock new trade opportunities and reinforce Kenya’s position as a prime destination for Chinese investment.
During his visit, President Ruto is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji. These discussions will focus on shared priorities including economic transformation, sustainable development, and global cooperation.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed emphasized that the visit builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2017.
“Kenya is recognized as China’s leading Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner in Africa,” Mohamed said. “Projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway have significantly reshaped Kenya’s economic landscape.”
As part of efforts to increase Kenya’s exports, President Ruto will officially open the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in China’s Fujian Province. The new facility is expected to enhance the visibility of Kenyan tea in the Asian market and benefit smallholder farmers across the country.
The two nations are aligning BRI cooperation with Kenya’s development goals to create a strong industrial and logistics hub in East Africa. This visit also comes amid shifting global dynamics and reflects a renewed drive to redefine Africa-China relations, a partnership rooted in mutual benefit since 1963.
This is President Ruto’s third visit to China, the latest having taken place during the Belt and Road Forum in September 2024. China currently stands as Kenya’s largest trading partner, with cooperation expanding into new sectors year after year.
The visit will focus on a broad range of sectors including infrastructure, healthcare, ICT, green energy, manufacturing, and agriculture—all in line with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
A key outcome of the visit is expected to be the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement. The agreement will provide a structured framework for bilateral cooperation, particularly in BRI projects, and extend support to Kenya’s vocational training, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure programs.
Major projects under discussion include:
- The Rironi-Malaba Highway (170 km), approved by Cabinet for construction starting June 2025
- Completion of phases 2B and 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway
- The Kenya Digital Infrastructure Project
President Ruto is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and several cabinet secretaries, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing sectoral partnerships and attracting foreign investment.
The visit is also expected to create opportunities in agriculture, healthcare, education, the blue economy, environmental conservation, digital trade, and the creative industries—particularly benefiting women and young people.
On the global stage, President Ruto will advocate for reforms in the international financial system to make it more fair, inclusive, and responsive. Discussions will also cover regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian:
“We are confident that this visit will further deepen China-Kenya relations, support the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and advance the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future.”
For Kenya, the visit marks a strategic opportunity to strengthen its economic diplomacy and reinforce its leadership in shaping South-South cooperation for a sustainable and inclusive future.
