President Uhuru Kenyatta lauds China for opening market

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) and Xi Jinping (China). [Photo: Courtesy]

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has applauded China’s readiness to open its market to Kenyan products.

Kenyatta who is in Beijing for the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRI) yesterday signed a deal with President Jinping Xi to allow Kenyan farmers to export hass avocados to China. Kenya now becomes the first African nation to be allowed to export avocados to the Asian nation.

The deal on avocados follows the signing of a food, plant and animal safety agreement between the two countries last year to allow the East African country start exporting a selection of fruit and vegetables, flowers and meat to the Asian nation.

During the meeting with the Kenyan leader, President Xi called for greater synergy between development strategies and for maximizing the social and economic benefits of key programs such as railways. Xi added that China would encourage more Chinese businesses to invest in Kenya.

On his keynote speech at the conference on Friday, President Xi said that China would increase imports of goods and services on a larger scale.

The Chinese leader added that the country would slash its negative list on imports, negotiate and sign high-standard free trade agreements with more countries.

During the weekend, government officials in Beijing are expected to sign a deal with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for the construction of the Sh65b Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)-Westlands Expressway.

Of the deals to be signed in China, President Kenyatta’s top priority is negotiating a Sh368 loan billion for extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu.

The first phase of the project (Mombasa –Nairobi) cost Sh327b obtained from China Exim Bank.

China is Kenya’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 17 per cent of the East African nation’s annual trade by value or more than Sh400b, heavily tilted in China’s favour.

World leaders from 37 countries, 5000 delegates drawn from 150 nations and representatives of 90 international organisations are in Beijing for the BRI conference.

BRI aims at promoting global growth and economy through policy coordination among participating economies, infrastructure connectivity, trade investment and industrial cooperation.