China hails Ruto's visit as major win for Africa and Global South

Kenya is increasingly becoming a focal point for China in its quest to grow influence not just in Africa but the Global South, amidst Beijing’s tariff fight with the US.

Kenya’s critical role is seen in last week’s ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2001517377/spirit-of-rutos-china-trip-amid-trump-tariffs-and-need-for-caution?utm_cmp_rs=amp-next-page">visit to China< by President William Ruto, which the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi said has carved out a new path for Chinese relations with Kenya, Africa and generally the Global South.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan termed the visit a success, adding that it had set the pace for deeper relations between China and the rest of the continent.

She noted that the key achievement of the visit was the “building of a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era,” which takes the relations between the two countries a level higher.

“Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Ruto, this visit ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/amp/business/2001517376/direct-flights-sgr-extension-and-trade-top-list-of-ruto-jinping-deals">achieved a complete success<, which is of great significance for the future development of China-Kenya relations as well as cooperation between China and Africa, and even the Global South,” she said.

The envoy also said that during the visit, President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the One China principle, which recognises “Taiwan as an inalienable part of China.”

She noted that the joint statements by Kenya and China make it “clear that there is only one China in the world.”

“China and Kenya resolutely oppose any form of Taiwan independence and support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national rejuvenation,” said Amb Haiyan.

="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001517511/china-visit-beyond-trade-investment">President Ruto’s visit<, which was at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, was the third since taking office in 2022.

He is also the first African President to visit China since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) summit convened in September last year. 

President Ruto also visited China at a time when the Asian country is in the thick of a trade war with the US, which started after US President Donald Trump took office and has escalated to levels that analysts globally warn are unsustainable and likely to hurt the global economy.

Chinese goods exported to the US are now attracting tariffs of 145 per cent, while US exports to China attracted a tariff of 125 per cent. Both countries appeared unwilling to call a truce, and President Ruto’s visit came with speculations that the visit may be interpreted as Kenya leaning towards China in the tariff war.

While in China, ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001517366/ruto-secures-major-deals-in-china-visit">Ruto made a strong case< for the reform of key global institutions that are seen to be led by the West, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Security Council.

At a public lecture at Peking University, he noted that the institutions are outdated, as they were formed to solve post-World War II challenges and needed radical changes to address the challenges that the world is grappling with today. At the briefing yesterday,  Amb Haiyan noted that “Kenya appreciates China’s role as a stabiliser in the current volatile situation and China’s efforts to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the global South.”

This is even as she said China has not held talks with the US over the tariffs and that while it remains open to negotiations with the US, it will fight if it needs to.

“Recently, we’ve been hearing the US say that China and the US are having talks and are even about to reach a deal. But in fact, none of this is true. China and the United States are not having any consultation or negotiation at the moment,” she said, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that there are no winners in tariff and trade wars.