On the afternoon of April 18th, local time, the launching ceremony of the “International Living Water Program” co-sponsored by the Jiangsu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Amity Foundation was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ma Xin, member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, and Ester Passaris, a member of the Kenyan National Assembly, attended the event and delivered speeches.
Qian Wenhua, Vice President of the Jiangsu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, presided over the launching ceremony. Children from the beneficiary communities in Kenya performed wonderful African drums and dances.
After briefly introducing the economic and social development of Jiangsu, Ma Xin pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya, the two countries have always worked side by side and developed hand in hand, becoming good friends who trust each other politically and good partners for win-win economic cooperation.
In recent years, the two countries have had frequent high-level exchanges, political mutual trust has continued to deepen, and the cooperation in jointly building the “Belt and Road” has achieved fruitful results.
The Deputy Governor noted that the two countries have been at the forefront of cooperation pitting the Asian nation and the continent, which has not only brought benefits to the people of the two countries but also set an example for China-Africa cooperation.
Ma Xin said that Jiangsu is currently actively connecting with the United Nations’ “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and carrying out a series of cooperation projects focusing on development and improving people’s livelihood in the “Belt and Road” countries.
“The “International Living Water program” is an important measure for Jiangsu to help the “Belt and Road” countries improve people’s livelihood and welfare through social forces. Jiangsu will take the implementation of global development initiatives as a strategic guide, the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative as a practical platform, and build a bridge of people-to-people connectivity between Jiangsu and the “Belt and Road” countries through pragmatic people’s livelihood cooperation,” he said
In her speech, Passaris said that the “Belt and Road” cooperation has provided strong support for Kenya’s national development and economic prosperity. She cited sections of the Kenyan Constitution that stipulate that access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services is a basic right for all people.
“Thank you Jiangsu Province for carrying out the International Living Water Action in Kenya, which will benefit tens of millions of Kenyan people,” she said
The “International Living Water Action” is supported by the Jiangsu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and organized and implemented by the Amity Foundation.
The project aims to provide support to villages, communities and schools in developing countries that cannot access safe drinking water, help them obtain convenient drinking water and domestic water facilities, and assist in establishing a sustainable water management mechanism.
At the same time, it is hoped that through guidance, people’s understanding of the global water crisis will be deepened, and more people will be encouraged to take action to help developing countries and regions solve water problems.
Gao Qing, first-level inspector of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Nie Zhenping, deputy director of the Provincial Financial Office, Ni Guoqiang, deputy director of the Provincial Finance Department, and Zheng Wei, assistant secretary-general of the Amity Foundation, also graced the event.
