President William Ruto has called on global leaders to shift from climate pledges to tangible action ahead of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Speaking during a virtual Climate and Just Transitions summit in Beijing, Ruto emphasized the urgent need for accountability, highlighting the failure of past climate promises to materialize into meaningful projects.
“At this pivotal moment of geopolitical realignment, we cannot afford to treat climate action as a mere agenda item. It is time to move decisively from words to deeds,” Ruto stated. He warned that if the current national action plans remain unchanged, the world risks a temperature rise of 2.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century Ruto COP30a scenario he described as catastrophic.
The President reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing equitable, bold solutions to the climate crisis and positioned the country as a leader in championing sustainable development across Africa.
While in China on a State Visit, Ruto also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations. He expressed Kenya’s readiness to expedite the conclusion of a free trade agreement with China, aiming to deepen economic ties and boost infrastructure development. He praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative, crediting it with significantly enhancing infrastructure across Kenya and the continent.
Ruto’s engagements extended to high-level meetings with top Chinese officials, including Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Discussions focused on expanding Africa-China trade and facilitating win-win cooperation in key sectors such as transport and energy.
He also laid a wreath at Tiananmen Square, honoring the heroes of China’s founding revolution, and met with the Kenyan diaspora in Beijing, urging them to support Kenya’s transformative programmes in agriculture, education, and health.
On the third day of his visit, President Ruto is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and inaugurate a Kenya Tea holding centre in Fujian province, further cementing Kenya’s economic footprint in the Asian giant.
