Spat over restaurant's customer treatment not to affect Sino-Kenyan ties: embassy

The recent spat over customer treatment between a privately-owned Chinese restaurant and Kenyan patrons will not dent the thriving Sino-Kenyan relations, the Chinese embassy in Kenya said Thursday.

"The embassy expresses deep and sincere regrets over the recent spat. The conduct reported was wrong and unbecoming," Mao Yizong, spokesperson of the embassy said in a statement released in Nairobi.

"It has caused unnecessary, yet avoidable, misunderstandings, and threatened to jeopardize the mutual trust and friendship between the Chinese and Kenyan people," said Mao, adding that much as the restaurant has in recent days suffered an armed robbery, the management of the Chinese restaurant ought to have taken thoughtful measures that would not result into what has been construed to be selective admission of certain persons.

He said the owner of the restaurant has already expressed his apologies explicitly in major local media outlets and acknowledged his wrongdoing.

"We are sure the owner and management of the restaurant have learnt their lessons and believe all other owners of Chinese restaurants have taken note," he said. "We shall deal with any repeat of such misconduct with the severity, firmness and alacrity it deserves."

China and Africa are and have been good brothers, friends and partners. China-Kenya relations have remained close and cordial, and the mutual interests span a wide spectrum of common interests and extensive arenas of cooperation, including development of infrastructure, trade, culture and education, said the spokesperson.

"We are keen on creating a conducive environment of amiable co- existence between the people of China and Kenya. Our ultimate goal is to enhance our friendship and promote cooperation between our two peoples," he said. Endi