Chinese vice president meets Kenyan counterpart

Vice President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is satisfied with the fruitful development of China-Kenya relations and is ready to lift the ties to new levels.

Xi made the remark as he met with Kenyan Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka in the Great Hall of the People.

Musyoka is in Beijing to attend the first Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services.

During the meeting, Xi said fast growing trade and economic cooperation make up an important part of China-Kenya relations.

Two-way trade reached 2.43 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, increasing 33 percent from the previous year. Chinese companies had invested 250 million U.S. dollars in Kenya by the end of 2011.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries also have been developing well. Some 37,000 Chinese citizens visited Kenya in 2011.

Xi said as complex changes in the international situation posed grim challenges to developing countries, China and Kenya share a greater need to expand cooperation. He said the two countries should further improve mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and expand cultural exchanges.

Xi called for the two sides to step up cooperation within the framework of the China-Africa Forum so as to lift bilateral links and the China-Africa relations to new levels.

Musyoka reiterated Kenya's firm adherence to the one-China policy and support to China on issues of major concerns and core interests of China.

He said Kenya welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country and contribute to its economic development.