President of Kenya expects wide benefits from forum

Before leaving for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on May 9 in Nairobi that he is looking forward to positive results that will be beneficial not only for Kenya, but also for all of Africa and for China.

"I want you to see not just how Kenya will benefit, but how we can deepen our partnership, not just with China, but also Asia as a result of the dialogue that we will have at that particular meeting," he said. The forum will be held on May 14 and 15.

"Both as a president and as a Kenyan in East Africa, I look forward to the trip and the further enhancement of the already strong, cordial, positive relationship between our two countries and between China and Africa."

Kenyatta cited the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which is being built in partnership with Chinese companies and will be operational this year. "As I have always stated, the railway line is not supposed to end in Nairobi. It is a railway line that is supposed to open up East Africa, and go deep into the hinterland of Africa."

"It will be our priority to see how it can continue all the way through to the Democratic Republic of Congo, opening up a major corridor that can help the continent maximize its investment potential," he said. "It is a railway line that links Asia, Africa and ultimately the Americas as we look into the long term."

He said the railway will help Kenya advance its economy, eradicate poverty, solve job issues and reduce logistics costs, problems that have been difficult to resolve because of inadequate transportation.

"We wish China continues to help us extend the railway ... ultimately to join the Indian Ocean with the Atlantic. It will help transform our region and continent."

The idea behind the Belt and Road Initiative is to open up and deepen integration between regions, Kenyatta said. "I believe this is aimed at empowering people, maximizing the potential of the African continent and also boosting mutual investment and trade," he said.

He added that he hopes to see rising trade both from China to Africa and from Africa to China. "I also see the potential to increase manufacturing in the African continent, working in partnership with our Chinese friends, that will help boost employment opportunities," he said.

The president said Kenya's first level of engagement with China was on a people-to-people basis in terms of sports and culture exchanges.

panzhongming@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/12/2017 page3)