Guo Haiyan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ambassador-Designate to Kenya, arrived in Nairobi on Monday, prepared to assume her diplomatic responsibilities.
Guo was appointed as the next Chinese envoy to Kenya by Beijing following her tour of duty in Guyana, which concluded in December last year. She had held the position since October 2021.
The consummate diplomat succeeds Ambassador Zhou Pingjian, who returned to China last month after completing a four-year term as the country’s chief representative in Nairobi.
Upon her arrival, Ambassador Guo expressed her readiness to collaborate closely with the Kenyan government and people, stating her aim “to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries and further promote practical cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples.”
Guo becomes the 18th Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya.
She was received by several officials, including Ambassador Jane Makori, the Deputy Director General of the State Department for Foreign Affairs, Chargé d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, Ambassador Zhang Zhizhong, and Gao Wei, Chairman of the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association.
On behalf of the Kenyan government, Amb. Makori extended a warm welcome to the new envoy and congratulated her on her appointment to Nairobi. She assured Guo that the Kenyan government values its relationship with China highly. Makori added that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs will work closely with Guo to enhance Sino-Kenyan relations.
