Kenya, China vow to enhance bilateral ties

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki met here Friday with chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature with both promising to make efforts to enhance bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Chen expressed appreciation to President Kibaki and the Kenya government for the pivotal role they played in brokering peace in Sudan and the horn of Africa.

Chen assured President Kibaki that China would provide the necessary support for peace and stability in the horn of Africa.

"Kenya, as a neighbor and the guarantor to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on Sudan, requires the support and not condemnation from the international community in her efforts to broker peace in Sudan," Chen said.

The Chinese official also congratulated President Kibaki and other coalition government partners for the passage and promulgation of the country's new constitution.

She thanked Kenya's support for the One-China policy.

The two also exchanged views on enhancing Kenya-China cooperation under the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC).

President Kibaki hailed the cordial bilateral and trade relations between the two countries which have continued to flourish through exchange visits at all levels.

The Kenyan president particularly expressed gratitude to China for its immense contribution to the African country's infrastructure development over the past years.

Kibaki noted with appreciation that China is today one of the leading bilateral donors to Kenya's infrastructure development with a cumulative official development assistance reaching 36.7 billion Shillings.

China and Kenya have signed agreements and MOUs in various fields including technical and cultural cooperation, trade, education, health, energy, agriculture and cooperative development.

Source:Xinhua