Lessons from history lay foundation for relations

Similar pasts have drawn Kenya and China closer together

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is due to visit China from Aug 18 on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. But friendly relations have existed for much longer. Back in the early 15th century, Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) navigator Zheng He's fleet arrived in Kenya.

Unlike Western colonial plunder and conquest in Africa, the Chinese first brought to Kenya and Africa silk and porcelain and other products, and brought back goods from Africa. It was a purely commercial and peaceful engagement.

It can be said that China and African countries like Kenya have since had similar historical experiences. Throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, they experienced Western colonialism, and in the second half of the 20th century, achieved national independence.

This was reflected strongly in 1955 during the Bandung Conference, which established a relationship of trust between China and African countries.

In 1963, when China and Kenya established diplomatic relations, they began a half-century of friendship and cooperation. From 1965 to 1974, due to ideological factors affecting international politics, and domestic politics in China, the relationship encountered twists and turns, but since then, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly.

This development of relations bears several characteristics.

First, there has been high-level political contact and frequent interaction. Former Kenyan presidents Daniel Toroitich arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki each visited China three times. These trips included ones to the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in November 2006 and the Shanghai World Expo in April 2010.

The speaker of the Kenyan parliament, the vice-president and the prime minister have also visited China many times.

In return, former presidents Jiang Zemin in May 1996 and Hu Jintao in April 2006 visited Kenya, as did many other high-level Chinese officials. Compared with other African countries, the overall number of official visits indicates closer China-Kenya relations.

Second, economic and trade relations between China and Kenya are becoming closer. They signed trade agreements as early as 1978. In 2001, an investment protection agreement was signed, and in March 2011 a committee on bilateral trade, investment, economic and technical cooperation was established.

Bilateral trade volume has increased significantly in recent years, with China becoming Kenya's major trading partner. In 2012, imports from China were $1.92 billion, imports from the United States $776 million, and from the United Kingdom $575 million.

Of course, the structural problems of bilateral trade are evident. In commodities, China exports electromechanical and high-tech products, textiles and clothing to Kenya, while its main imports from Kenya are tea, coffee, nuts and other agricultural products. Industrial added value is still limited.

In 2012, China exported $2.79 billion and imported only $50 million. The disparity is huge, and it's a problem facing both countries.

The rapid development of commercial exchanges is most prominent in the private sector. Currently there are nearly 200 Chinese companies doing business in Kenya, mainly involved in engineering, construction and trade.

Third, China is one of Kenya's major donors. Statistics show that since 1964, China has provided aid to Kenya in the form of interest-free loans, concessionary loans and other assistance. Chinese aid in Kenya has resulted in the Moi International Sports Centre, Eldoret hospital expansion project, road construction and improvement, drought relief, construction of primary schools in rural areas, power grids and telecommunications networks.

In 2010, China Development Bank and Equity Bank of Kenya signed a special loan of $50 million to support the Mata Rui plantation expansion project and promote local employment.

Finally, China's cultural exchange with Kenya is the highlight of cooperation between the countries. Traditionally, compared with Western countries, China's cultural influence in Africa is limited. The African people mostly know China via Western media, which has caused some misunderstanding about Sino-African relations.

In 2005, the Chinese set up the first Confucius Institute in Africa at the University of Nairobi. Since then, the Chinese Xinhua News Agency, China Central TV, and China Radio International have all made their African headquarters in Nairobi.

In February 2006, China Radio International's first overseas FM radio station began broadcasting from Nairobi. In January 2012, CCTV Africa launched in Nairobi. And in December last year, China Daily set up its Africa bureau in the capital. Kenya has become a window of China-Africa cultural exchanges.

Kenya's strategic significance in Africa cannot be ignored in the relationship with China. In sub-Saharan Africa, besides South Africa and Nigeria, Kenya is as important as Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Its geographical location and its influence in Africa have attracted the attention of the US and other major powers. Kenya is an important partner of the US in counter-terrorism strategy and international anti-piracy operations.

China and Kenya have common interests in many areas. The Kenyan president's upcoming visit to China will open a new starting point for strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/16/2013 page9)