China will be seeking to strengthen diplomatic ties with President William Ruto's administration, according to Chinese ambassador Zhou Pingjian.
Speaking at the University of Nairobi (UoN) on Saturday, October 1, Pingjian stated that his country will support Ruto's administration with partnership in the education system among the top priorities.
He hinted that the Chinese government would increase its investments in the education sector through its scholarship programme.
"We also appreciate the importance and significance of education. It is one of the priority areas of our bilateral cooperation.
"I hope our partnership can do more to promote this cooperation. The embassy started this scholarship programme 10 years ago and we can do more. For us it is the only natural thing to do," he stated.
He noted that the scholarship had benefited thousands of students in the country and that fostering diplomatic ties will grow and develop Kenya's economy.
“We are simply one family. At the embassy, it’s only natural for us to find ways to show our friendship. The embassy started the scholarship program ten years happy that we can play a small part in rewarding the Kenyan students,” he stated
The statement by the Chinese ambassador comes days after he was hosted by National Assembly speaker, Moses Wetangula, who allayed fears that Ruto's government would scale down ties with the Asian country.
"China is one of the most important national development partners for Kenya and has in the last decade extended considerable support to our infrastructure development.
"Assured him that the new administration of President William Ruto has no plans whatsoever to scale down our collaboration with the Republic of China," Wetangula stated then.
In recent years, China has been one of the country's biggest investors in the infrastructural sector with most of the big projects undertaken under former President Uhuru Kenyatta's reign.
Some of the projects done include the Nairobi Expressway and the Standard Guage Railway.
