Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, is in Changsha City, China, to attend the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The high-level session brings together representatives from 54 African nations to review progress made since the 2024 FOCAC Summit and to outline priorities for the next summit.
The 2024 FOCAC Summit, held in Beijing, saw Chinese President Xi Jinping pledge over $50 billion in financial support for African countries over three years. These funds aim to accelerate development cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, trade, health, and education.
Mudavadi’s Director of Press, Jacob Ng’etich, stated that the Prime Cabinet Secretary will use the opportunity to deepen Kenya-China ties, which have spanned over six decades. Mudavadi is also expected to hold strategic talks to build on gains made during President William Ruto’s State Visit to China in May, which culminated in the signing of several key Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
These MOUs include the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Kisumu and the dualling of the Nairobi-Malaba highway—major infrastructure projects set to transform regional connectivity and trade.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will join the talks, alongside African representatives. He highlighted that China aims to collaborate with Africa on advancing modernization and delivering the benefits of the ten partnership actions proposed by President Xi.
Mudavadi will also attend the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the China (Chongqing)-Africa Investment and Trade Cooperation Forum. These forums are expected to enhance trade and investment flows between Kenya and China.
Following his engagements in China, Mudavadi will travel to Helsinki, Finland. There, he will represent President Ruto as the Guest of Honour at the prestigious Kultaranta Talks, a high-level dialogue on foreign and security policy, to be held in the southwestern town of Naantali.
