President William Ruto warmly welcomed Guo Haiyan, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, at State House Nairobi, as she presented her credentials. Haiyan’s appointment marks a new chapter in the longstanding diplomatic relations between Kenya and China, which span over six decades. She succeeds Zhou Pingjian, whose tenure concluded in December after four years of fruitful engagement.
President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its ties with China, particularly in areas of infrastructure development, trade, investment, and climate change mitigation. He assured that Kenya would continue to leverage its partnership with China through platforms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which seeks to foster economic growth and mutual benefits for both nations.
“We will continue working together under FOCAC to accelerate the growth and development of our countries,” said President Ruto. He extended his best wishes to Ambassador Haiyan, emphasizing Kenya’s dedication to deepening the bilateral ties.
Ambassador Haiyan, who arrived in Nairobi on January 6, 2025, expressed her readiness to collaborate with the Kenyan government and citizens to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries. She also pledged to drive forward the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC summit held in Beijing, particularly focusing on the newly adopted FOCAC-Beijing Action Plan (2025-27). This comprehensive roadmap encompasses vital sectors including trade, infrastructure, agriculture, health, green development, and security.
Under the FOCAC framework, Kenya has already benefitted from greater access to Chinese markets for its agricultural products and is set to see further advancements in infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the construction of key roads like the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway.
These initiatives align with President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and are expected to enhance Kenya’s position as a key transport and logistics hub in Eastern Africa.
Ambassador Haiyan’s appointment heralds an exciting period for bilateral cooperation as both countries look to build on the successes of the past and pave the way for a prosperous future.
