China deepens integration into Kenyan society

Chinese embassy officials, expatriates and representatives of Chinese companies in Kenya have signed an initiative aimed at helping them better integrate into the local community.

Charles Sunkuli, principal secretary for the environment at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa attended the signing ceremony in Nairobi on Feb 28.

"The initiative is to promote China's image, deepen the friendship between the two countries and create a win-win situation," Liu said at the event.

Chinese ambassador Liu Xianfa addresses the gathering at the signing ceremony. Hou Liqiang / China Daily

The document includes a pledge to comply with local laws, "proactively integrate" with the local community and "work for a harmonious environment". Signatories also agree to fulfill their social responsibilities to ensure "a win-win outcome" for corporate and community development, and join hands to achieve the Chinese Dream and Kenya Vision 2030.

The number of Chinese companies operating in Kenya will continue to rise, the ambassador said, adding: "The Kenyan people have high expectations (from China), and the new developments in China-Kenya relations require us to take larger responsibility."

The Chinese embassy, Kenya Overseas Chinese Association, Kenya China Economic and Trade Association, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in East Africa, and the head office of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR Project of CRBC all jointly proposed the initiative.

Sunkuli said one of six major aspects of the initiative attaches great importance to wildlife protection, which will help boost efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

"It's crucial that Chinese companies working in Africa participate in the anti-poaching campaign to address the problem," says Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect Kenya.

In particular, she says, she has found that employees with China Road and Bridge Corp are "excited by the prospect of being part of the campaign".

The company is constructing the 472-kilometer Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which passes through two national wildlife reserves.

"China and Kenya have worked closely together to curb poaching and illegal ivory trade over the recent past," says Solomon Kyalo with the Kenya Wildlife Society. "Our close partnership, especially in the exchange of intelligence, has yielded positive results that have seen a dramatic drop in elephant killings. It's not a one-off process, and I believe our collaboration will continue."

Chinese companies are carrying out a number of mega projects in Kenya.

CRBC's holding company, China Communication Construction Co, is building three berths at the port of Lamu, part of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor. AVIC International Kenya is also constructing Terminal 4 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as well as the Greenfield Airport.

"We look forward to stronger interaction," Kahumbu says, "especially now as we approach the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species this year in South Africa."

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/04/2016 page3)