The Kenya-China Alumni Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with eight prominent Chinese business associations in Kenya. The initiative seeks to strengthen economic collaboration and promote youth empowerment.
Dr. Henry Rotich, Chairperson of the Kenya-China Alumni Association, emphasized the transformative potential of the agreements reached on Friday. He stated that the alumni members act as a vital bridge between the two nations.
“These agreements will strengthen our mutual collaboration and enhance understanding, ensuring that the growing Chinese community in Kenya remains integrated, and that both our peoples benefit from shared goals,” he explained.
Dr. Rotich further remarked, “They say if you want to reach a man’s heart, learn his language. By utilizing Chinese language skills and cultural understanding, the alumni continue to foster deeper ties.”
He noted that the pacts will enable Chinese-speaking professionals from Kenya to fully leverage their expertise across various fields locally, contributing positively to economic and cultural development.
Du Shan, a representative from the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), echoed this sentiment. She stated that Chinese companies under the association have made positive contributions to Kenya’s development and are eager to enhance their activities locally for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
“Since its founding in 2001, the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association has grown to include 106 member companies, covering areas such as engineering, trade, manufacturing, and technology services. Together, we have made valuable contributions to Kenya’s economic growth and to building a strong trade partnership between our two countries,” stated Shan.
Shan, who is also the Executive General Manager of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) Kenya, noted that the latest partnership agreements would help harness the skills of Kenya’s youth, preparing them for the evolving job market through targeted capacity-building programmes, internships, and direct employment opportunities with Chinese companies operating in Kenya.
“We are highly committed to talent development in Kenya. Between 2016 and 2018, we fully funded 100 outstanding Kenyan students to pursue further studies at Beijing Jiaotong University in China. These students have since graduated and are now serving as key figures in Kenya’s railway sector,” she said.
During the ceremony, Zhang Zhizhong, the Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, spoke of the significance of deepening the relationship between Kenya and China, particularly in the face of global challenges.
“I firmly believe that alumni could play a unique and important role in this process, carrying forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, deepening mutually beneficial collaboration between China and Africa, and enhancing China-Africa solidarity and coordination in the days to come,” he stated.
Zhang affirmed that Africa is a valued partner for China, and that Beijing is eager to assist Kenya and the continent in realizing their development aspirations. He noted that this was exemplified during the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing, where the Chinese government pledged to implement economic empowerment programmes funded to the tune of USD 51 billion over the next three years.
“President Xi announced ten partnership action plan that China would take with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years, covering the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security,” he said
