At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kenya's new president Uhuru Kenyatta began a state visit to China on August 18. The first meeting between the two leaders has injected fresh vitality into bilateral relations and opened a new chapter in the whole field of Sino-African relations.
Kenya is not only the most dynamic of East African countries in economic and social development, but also exercises considerable importance and influence throughout the continent. 2013 is the 50th anniversary of Kenya's independence, and also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya.
To commemorate and celebrate this important moment, President Kenyatta has made China one of his first destinations outside Africa since taking office in April this year. Clearly the new Kenyan government attaches great importance to relations with China and considers China as a trusted development partner, and hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in access to infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other areas in pursuit of mutual benefit and common development.
There is currently a surge of development across many African countries, and a rising trend among them to "Look East". They hope to learn from China's experience in poverty reduction and development gained during the past 30 years of reform and opening up, in order to achieve the "African dream" of “Eradication of poverty, economic development and sustainable development" which has been pursued since African countries first began to win their independence. Sharing development experience with Africa has become a goal for government, enterprises, and Chinese society. Moreover, Chinese investment in Africa is booming.
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