China, Kenya vow to enhance ties via concrete cooperation

NAIROBI, May 10 -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed here Saturday to advance the bilateral ties through concrete cooperation in various areas including civil aviation.

During their talks, Li said China is willing to cooperate with Kenya to strengthen high-level exchanges and political mutual trust, and support each other on issues concerning their core interests, so as to promote the two-way relations to a higher level.

The all-round, wide-scope and multi-tiered cooperation between the two countries now faces new development opportunities, he said.

China is ready to cooperate with Kenya, a transport hub in Africa, to jointly operate regional air routes and build railway networks, Li said.

The bilateral cooperation also includes agriculture and food safety, environment and wildlife protection for sustainable development, and a joint scientific research center for Africa, said the Chinese leader.

Kenyatta said Li's trip will further the strategic partnership between Africa and China, calling his ongoing Africa tour a milestone which coincides with the 50th anniversary of China's late Premier Zhou Enlai's first visit to the continent.

He hailed China's important contribution to Africa's peace and development and fully agreed with Li's proposal made earlier at the African Union (AU) headquarters on China-Africa cooperation framework, as well as Li's another initiative presented to the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa on the joint construction of three infrastructure networks in Africa.

The president said Kenya is willing to become a gateway to Africa for Chinese companies and actively promote Africa-China cooperation.