Kenya, China To Strengthen Bilateral Ties, Economic Partnership
Kenya and China have reiterated their dedication to strengthening economic ties, emphasising trade, infrastructure investment, and financial cooperation.
In a high-level meeting held in Beijing, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi engaged with China’s Minister of Finance, Lan Fo’an, to discuss strengthening financial and trade ties between the two nations.
The National Treasury in a statement on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 was disclosed that the discussions centered on Kenya’s strategic priorities, including infrastructure, energy, and technology, which are key to accelerating the country’s economic growth.
CS Mbadi emphasised the need for increased Chinese investment in these critical sectors, particularly in financing major infrastructure projects and enhancing bilateral trade.
“Kenya values its long-standing economic partnership with China, which has significantly contributed to our national development. We are keen to enhance trade terms and investment flows to create more opportunities for our people,” CS Mbadi stated.
The leaders also explored mechanisms to improve Kenya’s trade balance with China, seeking expanded market access for Kenyan exports, including agricultural and manufactured goods.
The meeting reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to reinforcing these economic partnerships, ensuring sustainable debt management, and fostering job creation in Kenya.
Minister Lan Fo’an, in turn, reaffirmed China’s dedication to supporting Kenya’s economic agenda by financing infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and enhancing collaboration in renewable energy and digital transformation.
He also conveyed China’s readiness to engage in discussions on debt restructuring and concessional financing to bolster Kenya’s economic stability.
