Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has joined a host of African leaders in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, for the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), marking a significant step in advancing economic cooperation between Africa and the world’s second-largest economy.
Speaking at the Expo, Mudavadi highlighted the importance of the event, describing it as more than just a trade fair, but a gateway for deepening economic ties and strengthening diplomatic relations. He emphasized that Kenya’s participation comes at a pivotal time when the country seeks to recalibrate its trade relationships to focus on balance, value addition, and long-term sustainability.
“This Expo is more than a trade fair. It is a gateway for deepening our economic ties, strengthening diplomatic bridges,” Mudavadi stated. “It fosters meaningful investment between China and Africa, and Kenya is well-positioned at the heart of this evolving relationship.”
China’s trade with Africa reached a historic high of USD 295.5 billion in 2024, a figure Mudavadi pointed to as evidence of the growing importance of Sino-African economic engagement. He noted that the surge in trade presents expansive new opportunities for African countries to benefit from technology transfer, infrastructure investment, and industrial growth.
For Kenya, the Expo provides a platform to showcase investment opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, ICT, and infrastructure. The government hopes to attract more Chinese investors, promote Kenyan exports, and explore joint ventures that add value to local industries.
Mudavadi’s participation underscores Kenya’s commitment to forging equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships. His presence also signals the country’s strategic intention to tap into China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other development frameworks that align with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, launched in 2019, serves as a vital mechanism for implementing trade cooperation initiatives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). As African nations increasingly look East for trade and development, Kenya’s active engagement in CAETE demonstrates its readiness to be a key player in shaping the continent’s economic future.
