On January 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from representatives of Kenyan students and alumni at Beijing Jiaotong University.

Typically, letters by foreign students studying in China convey the thoughts and experiences they have had while studying and living in China, as well as their recognition of the so called Chinese Miracle, among other experiences.

Earlier, representatives of Kenyan students and alumni at Beijing Jiaotong University had written a letter to Xi, expressing their great pleasure in coming to China to learn railway operation and management.

They also expressed their hope to serve as a bridge of friendship between Kenya and China and contribute to enhancing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

For millennia, letters, across mountains and oceans, have been delivering writers’ sentiments and conveying friendship and expectations.

Xi, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has managed to find time to reply to some letters from different parts of society both nationally and internationally.

Through his letters, Xi has corresponded with international friends from all walks of life on numerous occasions, part of a series of excellent stories of China’s international exchanges in the new era. The letters have also added vivid color to the diplomacy between China and other countries.

In Xi’s words, China and Kenya enjoy a time-honored friendship. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has turned the ideals of development and revitalisation of China and Kenya into reality, and closely linked the well-being of the two peoples. The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway is a flagship project and a successful example of China-Kenya Belt and Road cooperation.

The magnificent picture of the BRI and the grand blueprint of the China-Kenya comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership needs more promising young people to achieve.

In addition to acquiring professional knowledge, the students are in an ideal position to continue and devote themselves to the traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation. The students can also tell stories of China-Africa friendship, and make greater contributions to the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

China-Kenya relations have become a model of China-Africa solidarity, cooperation and common development.

During the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visit to Africa in July, 2022 the two partners vowed to support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and exploring development paths suited to their national conditions.

Second, they stated the need to cooperate in accelerating development and revitalisation, and to continue strengthening partnership in infrastructure development, trade and investment. China committed to support Kenya in accelerating industrialisation and modernisation.

Third, the partners expressed the need to promote China-Africa solidarity by, among other means, working together to implement the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, continue promoting overall cooperation between China and Africa, and jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

Fourth, the partners agreed to safeguard regional peace and maintain close communication on regional situation and hotspot issues. The countries will also strengthen coordination and cooperation at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and other platforms, and play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Kenya and China share common or similar positions on international and regional issues. Kenya is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in multilateral settings, especially at the UNSC to jointly promote a more just and reasonable international order.

The deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields and cultural exchanges between Kenya and China has created a large number of jobs in Kenya, improved people’s lives, and brought notable benefits to the people.

Kenya would not have today’s development achievements without China’s strong support, which is imprinted on the mind of the Kenyan government and people.

— The writer is a PhD candidate in International Relations