Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday met with Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, with both sides pledging to deepen Belt and Road cooperation.

Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, China and Kenya have treated each other as equals, supported each other and jointly strived for revitalization.

The two countries have become good friends sharing political mutual trust and good partners engaged in win-win cooperation, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee

China approaches relations with Kenya from a strategic perspective, and is willing to work with Kenya to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point to align their strategies for revitalization with a focus on development and cooperation, and push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level in the new era, Wang added.

He urged the two sides to strengthen the strategic guidance of their leaders, enhance political mutual trust and increase exchanges between governments and political parties in various fields.

China firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding its sovereign independence and national dignity, fighting terrorism and taking a development path in line with its own national conditions, Wang stressed.

China is willing to actively promote cooperation with Kenya in railway, highway, aviation, information and other fields while jointly advancing Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative and the "nine programs" of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, so as to help Kenya advance its economic and social development and promote regional integration in Africa, the senior Chinese diplomat said.

China stands ready to work with Kenya to practice multilateralism, preserve the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and the common interests of developing countries, promote the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa and safeguard regional peace and development, Wang said.

Noting that Kenya-China relations have been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, President Ruto said strengthening friendly cooperation with China has become a consensus shared by all sectors in the country.

Ruto highly praised China's efforts in growing relations with Kenya based on the principle of mutual respect. Kenya is firmly committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, and is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges, deepen cooperation in such fields as railway, highway, water conservancy, aviation and renewable energy under the frameworks of Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in order to promote connectivity and regional integration in Africa and achieve win-win results, Ruto said.

The Kenyan president also said that his country supports and will actively participate in the Global Development Initiative proposed by China.

Common development

Wang on Saturday also met with Alfred Mutua, Kenya's cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs.

During the meeting, Wang praised the fruitful results China and Kenya have achieved in bilateral cooperation, which he said stands out in cooperation between China and African countries.

As Kenya's comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China has maintained a stable and consistent policy toward the East African country, Wang said, adding that China always adheres to the principles of equality and mutual trust in this regard.

China firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, he said.

Taking the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Kenya, China is ready to further deepen their traditional friendship, strengthen synergy of their strategies on all fronts and step up mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Wang said, noting that the two sides should work together to tackle challenges in order to achieve common development.

Wang reiterated that China supports Kenya in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs, and stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kenya to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Mutua said the Kenya-China friendship is not a choice of expediency, but a long-term strategic choice that will yield mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Kenya will never forget the support and help China extended to the country when it faced difficulties and challenges, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure construction, climate change and other fields, so as to promote further development of the Kenya-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Mutua said.

Kenya is ready to join hands with China to maintain regional peace and security, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and jointly build a better world, he added.

(With input from Xinhua)