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Chinese envoy says Sino-Kenyan ties bearing fruits

Xinhua, August 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sino-Kenyan ties have been growing rapidly, resulting in expansion of investment opportunities in the two countries, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa said on Friday.

Liu said in a commentary published in a local daily that bilateral financial cooperation between the two friendly nations has registered massive progress that has led to the launch of direct currency exchange between the two countries.

"The bilateral trade volumes reached 6 billion U.S. dollars last year, twice as much as that of 2013," Liu said.

The Chinese investment in Kenya, especially the construction of the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) that is due for completion next year, has moved faster than expected.

The accomplishment is believed to form a lasting emblem to China-Kenya, China-Africa cooperation, he said.

Besides the railways project, the Chinese government has also supported the construction of the Mombasa Port terminal and Mombasa Special Economic Zone that have given the cooperation a new lease of life.

The envoy revealed that mutual cultural and people to people exchange has positioned Kenya as the center of Chinese media in Africa and a popular destination for Chinese tourists.

In the past few years, four Confucius institutes, one Confucius classroom and three new Chinese corners have been set up while cultural and language exchanges between China and Kenya have been enhanced.

"The first Chinese overseas research institute, a joint research institute, will be operational this year," Liu said.

In the past, lecturers from 15 prestigious universities and young diplomats from China have made exchange visits with a view to enhancing the cooperation between the two countries.

"We are keenly engaged on issues of anti-terrorism, counter piracy, regional peacekeeping missions, climate change, and reforms of the United Nations with the aim of promoting regional peace and security," he added.

Liu said that China will continue supporting Africa in resolving its issues in an African way as opposed to imposing outside ideologies on the continent. Enditem