News

Uhuru to attend upcoming Belt and Road forum in Beijing

uk

President Uhuru Kenyatta (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) prepare to inspect Chinese hornour guards during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on August 19, 2013. AFP PHOTO / WANG ZHAO

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to attend the upcoming Belt and Road forum in Beijing, China, where heads of state and global experts will deliberate on common development through a win-win cooperation.

Over 28 heads of state will be in attendance during the May 15 event, alongside UN Secretary General António Guterres, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

China president Xi Jinping in 2013 launched the initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road through win-win cooperation for common development.

Kenya falls within the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, from which its stands to reap big through the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor.

“Kenya is a natural maritime route. Through the LAPPSET project, this creates an extension of the Maritime Silk Road. This will create massive economic advantages for Kenya,” said Statehouse Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu.

To date, 40 of the estimated 100 countries and international organizations that have supported and joined the Jinping-initiative have signed cooperation agreements with China.
These countries come from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Achievements since the launch of the initiative, include establishment of the Silk and Road Fund and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

There has also been good progress in building economic corridors and the connectivity network as well as the upsurge in trade and investment in the Asian region.

Mr Kenyatta will attend the leaders' roundtable summit which is a one of the main events of the forum.