My posting to Kenya could not have come at a better time

On March 22 , I arrived in the beautiful city of Nairobi to start my tenure as the 16th Chinese Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat. After presenting my credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 8, I officially began to perform the full duty of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Within weeks, I have travelled to many towns, visited projects including Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and met with some Kenyan friends from different walks of life. I am delighted to notice the thriving development in every sector in Kenya, verified by the hustle and bustle on construction sites.

I sincerely admire the great achievements made by the Kenyan government and people. I feel strongly that the China-Kenya relations are experiencing unprecedented opportunities. It’s my honour to be accredited to Kenya at this particular time, when all conditions are favourable to foster even stronger ties.

Kenya enjoys unique and favourable natural conditions and a diversified culture which endows itself with vigor and vitality. Since Kenya’sindependence, the hardworking Kenyan people have developed this fertile land into a hub for trade, finance, transportation and international communication in East Africa.

Kenya is playing an increasingly essential role in both international and regional affairs. Towards Vision 2030 and Big 4 proposed by President Kenyatta, people from all sectors are striving for achievements, which is changing Kenya in a better way every passing day.

Promotion opportunity

The China-Kenya relationship is at its best time in history, and that means I’m here in good timing. In recent years, President Xi Jinping and President Kenyatta have together upgraded China-Kenyarelations into Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

The second China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai in November, which will bring about another promotion opportunity for Kenyan coffee, tea, flowers and other agricultural and tourism products. This year, we will also celebrate the second anniversary of the opening of SGR. China-Kenyacooperation is certainly embracing a brighter future.

I am here with the right people. Based on the common aspiration of our people, China-Kenya pragmatic cooperation has been flourishing. Infrastructural cooperation has covered various fields; railways, roads, airports, ports, communication, housing, water supply and power.

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR, as one of the benchmarks of BRI, has been completed in advance and operated safely and smoothly. Over 2.77 million passengers have traveled on SGR; around 4.21 million tonnes of goods have been transported through the railway, with economic indicators surpassing expectations.

China and Kenya are working closely on the construction of Mombasa Special Economic Zone and Naivasha Industrial Park, which will  benefit Kenya’sindustrialization. Twyford Ceramics project Phrase?has been put into operation. The solar power station in Garissa is now connected to the grid for power generation. Projects for people’s livelihood like ‘Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages’ are now in place.

Achievements

The recently signed Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement is opening a new gate for the healthy and balanced development of bilateral trade. In 2018, China’s non-financial direct investment in Kenya has doubled to $520 million. Both sides enjoy frequent exchanges in education, science and culture.

The China-Africa Joint Research Centre and China-Kenya Laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology were established in Kenya. In 2018, around 170 Kenyan students were awarded China-sponsored scholarships for further studies in China. While over 81,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Kenya for leisure and adventure, 686 Kenyans were trained in China

This month, 55 outstanding Kenyan employees picked by Chinese enterprises are flying to China for a one-week visit. We believe they will enjoy the hospitality of the Chinese people, witnessing China’s development and achievements, and pushing forward more cooperation.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 56th anniversary of the establishment of China-Kenyadiplomatic relations. China-Kenya relations are standing at a higher stage with new development opportunities.

As the new Chinese ambassador to Kenya, I will-based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and shared benefits- live up to my mission and take into full play the favourable conditions of “good timing, right place and right people”.

Together with our Kenyan brothers and sisters, we will surely promote our bilateral cooperation in all sectors, enhance mutual understanding, and open a new chapter for China-Kenya friendship.

Mr Peng is Chinese Ambassador to Kenya