Kenyan President William Ruto, who is on a state visit to China, visited Peking University on Wednesday and delivered a speech praising the two countries' ties. Addressing students and faculty at China's top-tier university in Beijing, Ruto highlighted how Chinese-built projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have transformed regional connectivity in Africa.
He reviewed the development of relations between China and Africa, as well as the fruitful achievements of their cooperation. He stated that Africa and China have become close partners, a relationship rooted in historical traditions, based on common interests, and focused on a shared future.
"Our cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has delivered flagship infrastructure project that is reshaping national connectivity and regional integration. I wish to commend China for its leadership in renewable energy technologies, particularly in solar power and electric vehicles. Today, solar panels, e-bikes and electric buses are commonplace in African towns. This is what meaningful South to South cooperation should look like," Ruto said.
Ruto also addressed escalating trade tensions and challenges to post-WWII multilateral systems, while outlining Africa's sustainable development goals and the prospects for international cooperation of African countries.
"In a world where globalization is no option but an existential imperative, any polarization is undesirable, unnecessary, and untenable," he said.
Ruto's last travel to China was in 2023 for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
His visit from Tuesday to Saturday will also take him to more Chinese regions to study economic policies and governance practices.
Kenyan president visits Peking University, addressing students
