Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga on Thursday agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forumon China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC),

which kicked off in the Chinese capital onThursday.

In recent years, China-Kenya ties have developed rapidly and comprehensively, withfruitful achievements in the cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

Both sides have continued to push forward practical cooperation in trade and economy,maintaining an annual bilateral trade growth of over 30 percent, Xi said, adding thatpeople-to-people and civil exchanges between the two countries have also beenexpanded.

Xi said China is willing to work with Kenya to further promote the relations of friendshipand cooperation. The two sides should enhance communication in governanceexperience and strengthen mutual political trust through high-level exchanges, he said.

China and Kenya should also strengthen mutual support in issues of each other’s coreinterests and concerns, deepen practical cooperation, and consolidate the substantialfoundation of the two countries’ friendship, Xi said.

China will consider taking part in the financing and construction of Kenya’s keydevelopmental projects, and promote bilateral trade balance in various forms,according to Xi.

China will also push forward people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, andenhance exchange and cooperation with Kenya in areas including education, culture,press and tourism, he said.

Xi said consolidating and developing relations with African countries is an importantfoundation stone of China’s diplomatic policies. China is ready to use the FifthMinisterial Conference of FOCAC as an opportunity to join hands with Africancountries, including Kenya, to push the new type of China-Africa strategic partnershipto a new stage.

For his part, Odinga said in recent years, cooperation between the two sides havedeveloped in a vigorous manner. The Africa-China cooperation under the framework ofFOCAC have brought important changes to Africa and strengthened the energy andmomentum of Africa’s development.

He said Kenya is willing to enhance ties with China to benefit peoples of the twocountries. Kenya will firmly adhere to the One-China policy, he added.

Odinga said Kenya welcomes Chinese companies to invest in his country, and take partin Kenya’s development in the sectors of oil, infrastructure, ports, electricity andmanufacturing. He said he hoped more Chinese tourists will travel to Kenya.

Kenya is also ready to strengthen coordination with China in international issues suchas United Nations re

Source : in2eastafrica.net