By Mwibanda
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 4 – President William Ruto has bid farewell to Dr. Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, who is concluding his four-year tenure in the country. In a statement, President Ruto acknowledged the strong and growing partnership between Kenya and China, noting that their collaboration has yielded significant benefits for both nations in various sectors.
During the farewell ceremony, President Ruto praised Ambassador Zhou for his dedication in strengthening the Kenya-China relationship, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, education, transport, and water projects. He highlighted the notable achievements that have stemmed from this partnership, including the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, superhighways, bypasses, and the development and equipping of technical colleges. These projects, President Ruto said, are a testament to the flourishing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“Our cooperation has yielded significant progress in infrastructure, education, transport, and water projects. The Standard Gauge Railway, superhighways, bypasses, and the construction and equipping of technical colleges are testament to our flourishing relationship,” President Ruto said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also commended the strategic partnership between Kenya and China. Mudavadi described the collaboration as a shared vision for a win-win future that benefits the citizens of both countries, reinforcing Kenya’s gratitude for the transformative opportunities that the partnership continues to bring, particularly in driving sustainable economic growth.
Ambassador Zhou, who served as the 17th Chinese ambassador to Kenya and the permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, succeeded Wu Peng. His tenure followed that of Sun Baohong, both of whom served for relatively short periods. Throughout his tenure, Ambassador Zhou played a crucial role in advocating for educational exchanges and promoting China’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s development.
The relationship between Kenya and China has been strengthened since the elevation of their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, which marked the highest level of bilateral engagement between the two countries. Over the years, Kenya has benefited from numerous development projects facilitated by this collaboration, positioning China as one of Kenya’s key strategic partners in Africa.
Ambassador Zhou has been particularly influential in promoting educational cooperation between the two nations. Under his leadership, over 2,000 Kenyan students have received scholarships from the Chinese government over the past 60 years, contributing to various sectors upon their return to Kenya. Recently, the Chinese government awarded 20 new scholarships to Kenyan students and is currently inviting more applications for additional scholarships, further strengthening the educational ties between the two countries.
As Ambassador Zhou prepares to conclude his time in Kenya, the partnership between Kenya and China remains strong, with both nations looking forward to further cooperation in the years to come. The successful collaboration in infrastructure, education, and other sectors continues to pave the way for a bright and prosperous future for both nations.
