Kenya extends Chinese New Year greetings, reaffirms strong ties with China

Kenya has conveyed heartfelt New Year greetings to the Chinese community at home and around the world as they celebrate Chinese New Year, reaffirming Nairobi's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with China.

President William Ruto in an official message released on Monday, described China as "an important development partner of Kenya and a strong voice for the Global South and multilateralism", highlighting Nairobi's appreciation for Beijing's role in advancing shared priorities in international forums.

"On behalf of the people and the Government of Kenya, I take this opportunity, on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, to wish the Chinese community in Kenya and around the world a Happy New Year," he said.

Ruto also acknowledged the role of Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya, particularly following his State Visit to China in 2025, which yielded new cooperation agreements in trade, technology and infrastructure.

"Kenya recognizes and appreciates the contribution of the Chinese business community in Kenya, a key stakeholder in implementing the outcomes of my successful State Visit to China in 2025 and in advancing the vision of building a closer community with a shared future for the new era," he stated.

He further pointed out that 2026 has been designated as the Year of People-to-People Exchange under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, or FOCAC, a multilateral mechanism that facilitates collaboration between China and African countries.

"As 2026 also marks the Year of People-to-People Exchange within the FOCAC framework, we look forward to continued collaboration with the Chinese private sector in undertaking initiatives that enhance people-to-people connections, including through tourism, as well as cultural, educational and sports activities," President Ruto added.

Kenya and China have maintained close diplomatic and economic relations for decades, with Beijing playing a central role in financing and constructing major infrastructure projects across the country, including highways, ports and railways. China is also one of Kenya's largest trading partners.