President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves for China-Africa summit

President Uhuru Kenyatta left the country for Beijing where he is scheduled to attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.

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The plane carrying the Head of State and his delegation departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 7pm on Friday.

Leader of Majority in Parliament Aden Duale, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe were at the airport to see off the President.

Besides the FOCAC Summit, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to hold bilateral talks with his host, President Xi Jinping.

The meeting will focus on trade, infrastructure, investments, education and technology which are common areas of interest for both Kenya and China.

The President travels to the Chinese capital a day after meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Nairobi and shortly after he returned from a historic meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC.

While addressing a joint press conference with PM Theresa May in Nairobi on Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya will follow realistic cooperation with all global partners.

He added that Kenya and the Britain have reciprocal interests and especially those that ensure the lives of Kenyans are improved.

The goal of the 2018 FOCAC meeting is the promotion of economic and trade cooperation between China and African economies.

It also seeks to synergise China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the development strategies of individual African countries.