Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) holds talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, Kenya, May 10, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed here Saturday to advance the bilateral ties through concrete cooperation in various areas including civil aviation.
During their talks, Li said China is willing to cooperate with Kenya to strengthen high-level exchanges and political mutual trust, and support each other on issues concerning their core interests, so as to promote the two-way relations to a higher level.
The all-round, wide-scope and multi-tiered cooperation between the two countries now faces new development opportunities, he said.
China is ready to cooperate with Kenya, a transport hub in Africa, to jointly operate regional air routes and build railway networks, Li said.
The bilateral cooperation also includes agriculture and food safety, environment and wildlife protection for sustainable development, and a joint scientific research center for Africa, said the Chinese leader.
Kenyatta said Li's trip will further the strategic partnership between Africa and China, calling his ongoing Africa tour a milestone which coincides with the 50th anniversary of China's late Premier Zhou Enlai's first visit to the continent.
He hailed China's important contribution to Africa's peace and development and fully agreed with Li's proposal made earlier at the African Union (AU) headquarters on China-Africa cooperation framework, as well as Li's another initiative presented to the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa on the joint construction of three infrastructure networks in Africa.
The president said Kenya is willing to become a gateway to Africa for Chinese companies and actively promote Africa-China cooperation.
China to invest in Kenyan aviation
China's Hainan Airlines would sign a deal with Kenya's cargo airline Astral Aviation to jointly explore the markets of East African countries, a Chinese official said Saturday.
Cooperation documents were expected to be signed during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Kenya, which ran from Friday to Sunday.
The deal would also involve the China-Africa Development Fund, established by China in 2007 to help its companies cooperate with African counterparts, the official said, without giving any specific amount.
Under the deal, Hainan Airlines would take shares in Astral Aviation, and the new entity would provide civil aviation service in Kenya and other East African countries, with Nairobi as the center.
At the initial stage there would be five 50-seat Embraer E-145 planes to fly between Nairobi and neighboring countries. When market grows, the fleet may be expanded and air routes extended to West and South African air transport hubs.
The Kenyan government plans to develop its aviation sector, which coincides with the China-Africa regional aviation cooperation program initiated by China, the Chinese official said.
Li said earlier this week that China would like to cooperate with African countries to help the continent build regional aviation network.
The Chinese premier arrived here Friday for a visit to Kenya, the last leg of his first Africa tour since he took office in 2013.
Li vows to combat poaching, ivory smuggling
Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Saturday that China is strongly committed to protecting wildlife and will spare no effort in combating poaching and ivory smuggling.
The premier made the remarks to Chinese and foreign journalists after visiting the Ivory Burning Site Monument in the Nairobi National Park with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 1989, then Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi burned 25 tons of ivory and other hunting trophies in the park. To mark the incineration, the Kenyan government reserved the burning site and set up a monument.
China highly appreciates and respects Kenya's hardworking effort and remarkable achievement in wildlife protection, Li said, adding China shares Kenya's considerable emphasis on the issue. >>>More
