China, Kenya pledge to deepen ties, cooperation

China and Kenya have pledged to further deepen bilateral relations and practical cooperation, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

"We have agreed to make further progress in the comprehensive cooperative partnership between our two countries featuring equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," Wang told media after meeting with his Kenyan counterpart Amina Mohamed.

The two sides also agreed to continue to support each other on issues regarding their core interests and major concerns, so as to lay even firmer foundation for the development of bilateral relations, he added.

Wang said China is willing to transform bilateral traditional friendship into impetus for common development, and work with Kenya to convert its potential in human and natural resources into economic strengths.

The Chinese foreign minister stressed that both sides would further cooperation in seven priority areas of agricultural modernization, infrastructure development, industrial relocation, renewable energy, ecology and environmental protection, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security cooperation.

Meanwhile, the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing a bilateral steering committee, Wang said.

Kenya is China's important partner in Africa, Wang said, adding that he chose Kenya as the first stop of his trip to Africa to implement the important consensuses and agreements reached by the leaders of both countries.

During his visit, Wang expected to "hear the views and suggestions of African friends for the preparation of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to be held in South Africa this year."

For her part, Mohamed said she "is very glad and feel privileged" that Wang had chosen Kenya as his first stop in Africa.

She said that the relationship between Kenya and China is broad and deep, and Wang's visit will provide opportunities to strengthen friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, as well as to facilitate the implementation of cooperation programs.

The Chinese foreign minister arrived here on Saturday. After a two-day official visit in Kenya, Wang will continue his Africa trip, which will also take him to Sudan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.