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China's CPC to strengthen relationship with world political parties

Political observers are keen to see how the relationship between Kenya and China will be under Ruto.

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by BRIAN ORUTA

News23 October 2022 - 09:47
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In Summary


  • • The Kenya Kwanza coalition had made remarks to the effect that his regime will cut down on borrowing from the East.
  • • Ruto is keen to strengthen bilateral ties with friendly countries.
Communist Party of China general secretary and China president Xi Jinping leads his six other colleagues in the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee out of the podium after addressing the local and international press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on Sunday

China president Xi Jinping has said he will strengthen the Communist Party of China's relationship with political parties across the globe.

This he said, is in a bid to promote common tenets of peace, justice and rule of law.

Xi spoke after he was re-elected for a third term as the general secretary of the CPC on Sunday, during the first plenary session of the newly elected Central Committee.

Political observers are watching with keen interest the direction the relationship between Kenya and China will take, under President William Ruto.

His Kenya Kwanza coalition had made remarks to the effect that his regime will cut down on borrowing from the East.

Indeed, Ruto's stance on the Mombasa port, widely believed to have been used as security for the Chinese loan to construct the Standard Gauge Railway, made for interesting reading.

During campaigns, his Kenya Kwanza allies claimed that China was using the loans to trap Kenya and eventually take over the port.

China has since clarified that no matter what happens with the SGR loan, they have no intention of taking over the Mombasa port.

In Beijing, China on Sunday, the Central Committee elected the seven members of the Standing Committee of its Political Bureau, which Xi heads. This will have a bearing on the relationship between Kenya and China.

Ruto is keen to strengthen bilateral ties with friendly countries.

China has over the last decade become an increasingly important ally to Kenya and the leader of China has a bearing on the direction the bilateral relations between the two countries will take.

Xi is most likely to be re-elected as president in March next year when the two sessions of the National People's Congress sit to elect the country's leader.

CPC, which is the ruling party will front a name to the NPC for consideration as president and will be subjected to a vote.

On Sunday, Xi introduced six other colleagues elected to the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee.

They are Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.

At a press briefing at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said China will strive to ensure peace and tranquillity across the globe, leaning more on the rule of law.

He said just as China cannot live in isolation, the world cannot love without China, speaking to the importance the Asian country has developed into in global politics.

He said though there are new challenges globally, China will strive to ensure shared prosperity and will not sit and watch her friends suffer economically.

"We will champion the common values of humanity," Xi said.

His remarks come a day after the conclusion of a week-long national congress of the ruling party in which several resolutions were adopted, including not allowing Taiwan to secede.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, sparking tensions between the self-governed island, which has the US as its biggest ally.

Kenyan president William Ruto, in his campaign pledges said his administration will cut down on borrowing that had chocked the country.

However, after being sworn in, he said the country's financial situation means borrowing funds is inevitable.

China was among the biggest lenders to Kenya during the tenure of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.

It remains to be seen whether Ruto will continue leaning towards the East as his predecessor Uhuru.

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