The Kenyan government welcomed on Thursday China's intention to finance major infrastructural projects to promote investment and spur the country into a middle level economy.

Speaking at a ceremony in which 45 local students were awarded education scholarships by the Chinese embassy in Nairobi, the PM urged the Chinese business community to increase imports of Kenyan tea to the Asian country to bridge the current trade imbalance between the two countries for the mutual benefit of all parties.

Odinga said the Chinese were also committed to support the construction of the northern and southern bypass in Nairobi and the Thika Boulevard, which when commissioned is set to become Kenya's largest and modern highway adding that other venture in telecommunication industry were in the pipedream.

The PM observed that industrial growth was the "sole remedy for the poverty that afflicts the vast majority of our people" which he said had the provision for jobs and economic opportunity which held the future of the nation.

"Not only China a Industrial power, the country also realized it's enviable growth in a comparatively short time in history rising from a peasant economy into a first world nation in thirty years, we believe with the right mix and learning Kenya can do the same," he said.

According to a statement from the PM's office, Odinga said the partnership between the two countries was crucial to open investment portfolio towards realization of the vision 2030 dream in Kenya.

Two of the scholarships whose focus was tailored to benefit destitute students from the sprawling Kibera slums in Nairobi would be awarded the duo to pursue further studies in China during the 2009/10 academic year.

The PM said the footprints of Sino-Kenya relationship were evident in various initiatives including the education, economic and non commercial interests since the turn of the millennium which coincided with the economic liberalization in the country.

Chinese ambassador Zhang Ming said the Chinese community in the country was among the first to give humanitarian assistance to victims of the post election violence earlier in the year.

He expressed the wishes of the Chinese people to nurture "better, cooperative and bilateral relations" to strengthen mutual partnership for the good of the two nations.

Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Dr. SallyKosgey announced that she would soon make a trip to China to source for educational, science and technological exchange programs.

The awarding of the scholarships which coincided with 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries was borne out of the desire by staff at the embassy to forego their Independence Day (Jamhuri) party whose expenses were channeled to help less fortunate members of the society.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2008)