Kenya celebrates China’s 75th anniversary, highlights strong bilateral partnership

Kenya and China reaffirmed their strong bilateral relationship during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Nairobi.

In his address, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, congratulated China on its 75-year journey of remarkable socio-economic transformation. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Chinese people to achieve their independence and praised the country’s development as one of the most significant in modern history.

“China is the world’s second-largest economy, the largest manufacturer, the largest trader in goods, and a key stabilizer in an unstable global economy,” Dr. Mudavadi said.

He highlighted China’s ability to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty and improve living standards, while committing to work closely with the Chinese government to deepen economic cooperation, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, ICT, and renewable energy.

Mudavadi also commended China’s role in fostering South-South cooperation and praised its advocacy for global peace, stability, and fairness. “China continues to be the ‘north star’ and a firm voice for many developing countries in an international system that is unfair, unjust, and insensitive to the peculiar needs of developing nations,” he added, referring to China’s role in championing the needs of developing countries in global forums.

Ambassador Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, echoed these sentiments by recognizing the strategic importance of China’s partnership with Kenya.

In his remarks, he reflected on China’s transformation from a poor and backward nation to a global powerhouse. “In a short span of several decades, China has transformed from a poor and backward country into a moderately prosperous society,” he said, emphasizing that China is now the world’s second-largest economy and a leading force in global trade, renewable energy, and technological innovation.

Ambassador Zhou further underscored China's commitment to peaceful development and global cooperation. “China is committed to pursuing peaceful development, carrying out friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and building a community with a shared future for mankind,” he stated.

Both leaders highlighted the importance of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a cornerstone of the China-Africa relationship. Dr. Mudavadi noted that the initiatives launched under FOCAC, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have significantly contributed to Kenya’s infrastructure development.

"Kenya acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Government of China, without which Kenya would not be one of the key Belt and Road Initiative partners," he said.

Ambassador Zhou reiterated China’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Kenya, following the guidance of Presidents Xi Jinping and William Ruto. He stressed that the partnership is focused on becoming “three types of partners”: sincere partners of mutual trust, cooperative partners of mutual benefit, and strategic partners in upholding fairness and justice.

The event also provided a platform to celebrate the contributions of the Chinese community in Kenya. Ambassador Zhou acknowledged their role in strengthening China-Kenya relations and promoting development.

As the celebration concluded, Dr. Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s long-term strategic partnership with China, saying, “Kenya greatly values the strategic partnership with China, which is people-centered, mutually beneficial, and permanent.”

He expressed confidence that the cooperation between the two countries will continue to grow, building on the strong foundation of trust, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.