President Xi Jinping's administration has appointed Guo Haiyan
as its envoy to Nairobi.
Guo, who arrived in the country on January 6, 2025, is taking over from Zhou Pingjian whose tenure ended in December after a successful four years.
Guo, who is expected to present her credentials to President William Ruto this week, is the 18th envoy since Kenya established diplomatic relations with China 61 years ago.
"Guo arrived in Nairobi to assume the post as the 18th Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Kenya," a post by the Chinese embassy in Kenya reads.
"She was received and warmly welcomed by Amb Jane Makori, Deputy Director General of the State Department for Foreign Affairs."
On her arrival, Guo "assured that she’s ready to work closely with the Kenyan government and people, to deepen traditional friendship between the two countries, and further promote the practical cooperation for the benefit of two peoples."
Guo previously served as Ambassador to Guyana. Her term came to an end in December 2024.
Among Guo’s immediate assignments would be to work with the President Ruto administration to steer the implementation of the outcomes of last year's FOCAC meeting in Beijing.
The meeting held in September last year culminated in the adoption of the FOCAC-Beijing Action Plan (2025-27).
The action plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for future cooperation, covers vital sectors such as trade, infrastructure, health, agriculture, green development, and security.
The sectors are viewed as crucial to Kenya’s development goals that align with President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
FOCAC led to an agreement that China would grant Kenya's agricultural produce greater access to the Chinese market.
It also reached new levels of cooperation on infrastructure development, with plans to expand Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and other key infrastructure projects such as the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway.
Kenya views the projects as poised to enhance further Kenya’s role as a transport and logistics hub in Eastern Africa.
Also on transport, the two sides agreed on the construction of 15 rural roads through a credit facility agreement with China Development Bank.
The aim is to promote rural connectivity further, create jobs, and improve market access for Kenyan farmers and traders.
Kenya and China also agreed on a regional China-Africa Development Fund to enhance public-private partnerships.
Kenya’s foreign ministry earlier spoke of plans to establish a regional fund office in Nairobi to deepen collaborations on infrastructure, manufacturing and trade.
At the end of his term, former Ambassador Zhou Pingjian was praised for significant contributions to strengthen bilateral ties between Kenya and China.
Under his watch, Kenya played significant roles in the Belt and Road Initiative and chaired sessions at the Beijing summit last year.
Prior to his reassignment to Nairobi, Pingjian was Chinese ambassador to Nigeria until 2020.
