Kenyan leader lauds closer ties with China

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday praised cordial relations existing between the East African nation with China. Speaking in Nairobi when he received credentials from several envoys including newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Liu Xianfa, Kenyatta appreciated the beneficial cooperation between the two countries. "We cherish the spirit of mutual respect between our two countries and the strong cultural, social and economic ties that we have shared for a long time," Kenyatta said. Speaking after presenting his credentials, Ambassador Liu noted that President Kenyatta's visit to China last August added impetus to a strong partnership. "In the past 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, our two countries have had frequent high-level exchanges, deepening political trust, fruitful economic cooperation and closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges," Liu said. "China and Kenya have supported and coordinated with each other in international affairs," the Chinese Ambassador added. Kenya and China in December 2013 marked 50 years of bilateral cooperation at a colorful celebrations held in Nairobi. The bilateral ties between Kenya and China have blossomed since 1963, noting that the benefits are visible across all human endeavors.