Kenyan president meets Chinese FM, hails bilateral ties

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug 10, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

NAIROBI - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday welcomed more Chinese investment and hailed China's Belt and Road Initiative while meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

China is a sincere friend and important partner of Kenya, Kenyatta said, expressing thanks for China's support to Kenya's economic and social development.

Kenyatta called for dovetailing Kenya's national strategies with the China-proposed "Belt and Road" initiative and for ensuring the timely operation of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway, which is being built by a Chinese company.

The president also encouraged Chinese firms to expand investment here so as to make Kenya a gateway for Chinese products to enter Africa.

Wang hailed the Sino-Kenyan relationship as being in its prime. Chinese companies are also confident about the Sino-Kenyan ties, he said, which is evidenced by their rapidly increasing investment in Kenya.

Via the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway, Mombasa port and Mombasa special economic zone, China hopes to strengthen its cooperation with Kenya and aid the country's industrialization, Wang said.