Anchor raised on new leg of long voyage

China-Kenya diplomatic ties go back 50 years, but the relationship is much older than that

The visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Kenya, part of a trip that also took in Angola, Ethiopia and Nigeria, holds great significance for both China-Kenya and China-Africa relations.

Fifty years ago, the late Chinese premier Zhou Enlai visited 10 African countries and put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Eight Principles of Foreign Aid, mapping out the guidelines of China's policy toward other developing countries, Africa included, and opening a new chapter of China-Africa relations.

Over the past 50 years, custodianship of the China-African friendship has been passed from generation to generation, China and Africa standing together through thick and thin, and supporting one another in even the most trying of circumstances.

Li's visit is important because it will be his first to Africa as premier and the first visit to Kenya by a Chinese premier in more than 10 years. As a result, collaboration, cultural and economic exchanges and political trust between the two countries can only grow, which marks out the visit as historic.

China and Kenya are, of course, geographically far apart, but they are well connected, politically, economically, culturally and technologically. The friendship and collaboration they enjoy is treasured by the people of both nations.

Kenya is one of the coastal countries of the Maritime Silk Road. About 600 years ago, the Chinese navigator Zheng He visited Kenya four times during his seven voyages to the western oceans, and myriad are the legends that have been passed down to us about them. Since China and Kenya established diplomatic ties 50 year ago, the two have enjoyed numerous great achievements, on the basis of equality and mutual trust.

Last August, President Uhuru Kenyatta chose China as the destination of his first overseas state visit, during which he and President Xi Jinping decided to set up a China-Kenya comprehensive cooperative partnership. In December, China and Kenya celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Earlier this year, the Chinese navy escort fleet visited Mombasa, the first visit to Kenya since China started its escort missions in Somali waters at the end of 2008.

For the first time Kenya has its own underwater archaeologists through a joint excavation project with China. The two countries have also worked closely together in international and regional affairs and supported one another on major issues.

As China's ambassador to Kenya, I am proud that economic cooperation and trade between our two countries has reached such a high level.

Last year, trade was worth $3.27 billion and contracted direct investment from China to Kenya was worth $537 million. China is the largest source of foreign direct investment to Kenya and its second-largest trade partner. Numerous infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese companies have improved the living standards of Kenyans, and locals have benefited from technical training that Chinese companies offer.

People-to-people exchanges have also flourished. There are three Confucius Institutes in Kenya and the fourth is on the way. Four major Chinese media houses have established their African headquarters in Nairobi. China Central Television broadcasts its African news worldwide every day. Each year the Chinese government provides more than 500 scholarships and training opportunities to Kenyans.

Although I have been in Kenya for a mere three months, I have already felt the sincere and deep friendship between our two peoples. I have heard many touching stories told by and about ordinary Chinese and ordinary Kenyans. When I am out and about, the Kenyans I meet are always quick with a word or two of Chinese, such as ni hao (jambo; hello), or xie xie (asante; thank you). Small words they may be, but they are powerful enough to move me to make even greater endeavors to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries.

The people of China and the government are committed to the rejuvenation of their country, and I know Kenyans and their government are just as committed to realizing their dreams, embodied in Vision 2030. Both are closely interconnected, and we are willing to join our Kenyan brothers and sisters as we work to achieve our goals in a spirit of affinity, sincerity and good faith.

As President Xi Jinping said during his recent trip to Europe, "China the lion has awoken, but it is a peaceful, amicable and civilized lion". In Kenya, too, I see a lion, one that possesses great strength and is ready to do great things, but above all comes in peace.

The timing of Premier Li's visit 600 years after Zheng He's fourth voyage is propitious, offering the hope of even greater efforts by China and Kenya to work together for a stable, prosperous and peaceful world.

The author is Chinese ambassador to Kenya. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/09/2014 page13)