The leaders of China and Kenya say their relationship is going “to a new level.”
The announcement coincides with Kenyan President William Ruto’s first official visit to Beijing, despite the fact that he had previously made two separate journeys to China.
Both China and Kenya have been looking for tighter partnerships elsewhere after trade tensions with the United States, so the timing of the visit could not be more important.
The 10% taxes that US President Donald Trump placed on Kenyan exports last month have sped up the country’s eastward migration. China has made significant infrastructure investments in Nairobi in recent years and hopes to keep up this trend; plans for a road and a railway project are among the items on the table in talks with Beijing.
China, on the other hand, views a stronger partnership with Nairobi as an attractive gateway point to East Africa and beyond.
According to reports, Xi and Ruto signed 20 cooperation agreements during their meeting in a variety of fields, including technology, the economy and security.
According to reports, President Ruto also stated interest in joining the BRICS nations, which include China.