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Kenyas Ambassador to China Willy Bett has asked the Chinese government to invest more in the energy sector and accelerate the country’s development.

Bett who has been in China for barely six months asked the Chinese officials to help Kenya achieve not only its Vision 2030 goals but also help Africa in its vision 2063 aspirations.

Speaking during a Coffee roundtable for African Ambassadors in China in a popular TV show by the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Bett underscored the need to bolster the two nation’s cooperation in energy, technology and cultural exchanges.

Bett said Chinese cooperation has seen the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that came with benefits to the locals from civil engineering scholarships and educational exchange programmes.

“SGR came at a time we had a lot of transport challenges. We are looking forward to Phase II of the project that will not only open the country to more business opportunities but Africa as a whole,” said Bett.

Yesterday, Bett was categorical that Kenya has a potential in agriculture, which needs to be modernized to increase food productivity and sufficiency, adding that Africa is the continent of the future.

Bett’s remarks comes barely a week before the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is to be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6.

Themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, high-level meetings, and the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, will take place.

Ruto visit

President William Ruto is set to lead a high level delegation to the Chinese capital where some key Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between the two nations.

CGTN is holding a series of roundtable discussions with officials and business leaders from Africa who have witnessed the steady growth of friendship between China and Africa ahead of the event.

Bett also held a discussion on business cooperation in infrastructure, China and Africa friendship with the Executive Chairman of Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa for Social Responsibilities Diao Chunhe and Mwangi Kariuki postgraduate student at Beijing Jiaotong University.

Meanwhile, some 94 senior journalists from Africa, Asia, South America and Middle East have begun a four month training in Beijing on New Media, Artificial Intelligence in newsrooms and Science and Technology.

In the training, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Togo, Lesotho, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Somali, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Senegal, Niger, Guinea, Congo Brazzavile and Nigeria are some of the countries representing Africa.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, China International Communications Cooperations (CIPCC) Director Yu Lei said that the training will offer the African journalists an opportunity to deepen China-Africa cooperation.