China, Kenya Have Broad Prospects of Cooperation: Ambassador

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, September 26, 2002

China, Kenya Have Broad Prospects of Cooperation: Ambassador

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There are broad prospects of friendly cooperation between China and Kenya as the two countries enjoy very cordial political relations, strong economic ties and cultural links, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Du Qiwen said Wednesday in Nairobi.

"Bilateral exchanges and cooperation enjoy the strong support of our two governments. Our two peoples are very friendly," he said while addressing more than 2,000 students and faculty members at the Kenyatta University.

Chinese businesses regard Kenya as the gateway to central and eastern Africa and they have been actively working with their Kenyan counterparts to explore new ways of cooperation, he told the audience.

Du disclosed that China will send a strong delegation consisting of 24 businesses to the upcoming Nairobi International Trade Fair, which will be the largest delegation at the fair.

"Cooperation between China and Kenya is, to a large extent, complementary," the ambassador said.

China is the biggest developing country undergoing rapid industrialization, he said, adding that Chinese products are, in general, suitable to African consumers in term of quality, efficacy and price.

On the Kenyan side, the east African country has a very hard-working and well-trained labor force, and its farming, tourism and service sectors have great potentials of development, he noted.

Du said that he was told by Kenyan Minister of Tourism and Information Kolonzo Musyoka that the Kenyan government has decidedto work for Kenya to be designated as an official tourist destination of China.

And if it becomes materialized, Kenya could benefit profoundly from the influx of Chinese tourists, he said.

The ambassador quoted the World Tourism Organization as saying that by 2002, China will be the fourth largest origin country in world tourism.

"Suppose, by then, 1 percent of the Chinese population travel abroad each year, and 3 to 4 percent of them end up in Kenya visiting places like Massai Mara and the Mombasa beach. That will be translated into a figure of half a million, about half of the annual tourist arrivals in Kenya today," he said.

China-Kenya friendly ties are relations between developing countries based on genuine friendship, equality and mutual benefit, Du said.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has offered assistance to Kenya within its financial capacity, he said, citing the building of the Moi International Sports Center and other projects.

Last year, the Chinese government wrote off two-thirds of the mature debts Kenya owed to the Chinese government.

During Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to Kenya in April this year, the two governments signed three documents on economic cooperation, and one of which is the funding of a road project in western Kenya, he said.

The ambassador also thanked Kenya's strong support to China on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet in which China's sovereignty and national unity are concerned.

"China and Kenya share a lot in common on world and international issues," he noted.

Both countries uphold the right of each country to choose its own social system and road of development and oppose interference into other countries' internal affairs, he said.

"We both call on the international community to take active and effective measures to help the developing countries, especially countries in Africa which are least prepared to face the challenges of globalization," he said.

Du also spoke highly of Kenyatta University's role in the field of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He said that in 2000, the university successfully hosted the performing tour of a Chinese acrobatic troupe to Kenya, and earlier this year, the dancing troupe of the university left people in China with great impression when they participated in the International Art Festival "Meeting in Beijing 2002".

He promised that the Chinese side will work more closely with the university to realize the potentials of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Before his speech, the ambassador held a brief talk with Vice Chancellor of the University George Eshiwani and donated a batch of audio-video equipment to the university.

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