Council of Governors (CoG) Chair H.E. Anne Waiguru alongside H.E Stephen Sang and H.E Dr. Paul Otuoma, joined President William Ruto and other heads of states and sub-national governments from across the world in Beijing, China for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) held from 16th to 19th October 2023.
The Conference, aimed at promoting better connections among countries, sub-nationals and cities in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people exchange, came at a time when the Chinese government was marking the 10th anniversary of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, a signature policy of President Xi Jinping, has seen Chinese companies build infrastructure such as ports, roads and power plants connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond, in a bid to boost trade and spur economic growth.
Speaking during the BRI forum on his maiden visit to China as a head of state, President William Ruto appreciated the deep historical ties between Kenya and China, cultivated by the nations' leaders and people over the past 60 years, as proof of the strong bilateral relations and wide-ranging cooperation between the two governments.
“Kenya is an example of an African country that has successfully implemented the Belt and Road Initiative. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), air and sea projects and more than 2,000 kilometers of road infrastructure are some of the investments undertaken within this framework. These projects have transformed connectivity within our country by making greater productivity and efficiency possible,” noted President Ruto.
Delivering her address during the opening ceremony on sub national cooperation on “Inclusive Development of Cities through High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation," Governor Waiguru highlighted the active role played by County Governments on the creation of urban spaces that are accessible, sustainable, and inclusive.
“We urge you to partner with Kenya, and particularly sub-nationals, in supporting the Belt and Road Initiative with a key focus on: infrastructure development; environmental sustainability; opportunities for direct trade and investment with Counties that can foster economic growth and job creation in our cities such as the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs); inclusive governance that embodies the spirit of devolution and; partnership in creation and facilitation of market for agricultural export products from Counties in Kenya including pyrethrum, coffee, banana, avocado, rice, tea and fresh fruits such as avocados and pineapples,” added the CoG Chair.
On the sidelines of the BRF, Governors held roundtable meetings with key stakeholders including the China-Africa Business Council to share and deliberate on the bankable investment opportunities in Counties in Kenya. Further, the Kenya China Investment roundtable session saw the signing of various investment agreements between the Chinese Entrepreneurs and the Kenya Government aimed at driving transformative growth across various sectors in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Key resolutions arising from the forum include: need for adherence to people-centered philosophy of development by actively promoting the establishment of more partnerships among local governments based on complementary strengths and industrial linkages; enhancement of both the quantity and quality of local cooperation with a focus on capitalizing on the local industrial structure and resources, and prioritize areas such as poverty alleviation and development, trade, urban governance, digital economy, green innovative development and capacity building; deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding, friendship, trust and affinity among people of all countries so as to consistently expand and consolidate the interest basis and public support for bilateral relations.
The Council of Governors remains committed to fostering stronger ties and cooperation in trade and investment between Kenya and China for the prosperity and development of our nation and its people.