Mbadi holds talks with China's Finance Minister to strengthen trade and investment ties

Kenya has secured stronger trade and investment relations with China following high-level discussions in Beijing aimed at deepening economic cooperation between the two nations.

In a meeting in Beijing on April 2, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi engaged with China’s Minister of Finance, Lan Fo’an.

In Mbadi's first trip to China since assuming office as Finance CS last year, Mbadi and his counterpart explored ways to enhance trade, infrastructure investment, and financial collaboration.

The discussions focused on Kenya’s strategic economic priorities, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and technology sectors that are vital to accelerating national development.

CS Mbadi underscored the importance of increased Chinese investment in these areas, particularly in financing major infrastructure projects and boosting bilateral trade.

A key agenda of the talks was improving Kenya’s trade balance with China, with Kenyan officials seeking expanded market access for exports such as agricultural and manufactured goods.

China remains Kenya’s largest bilateral creditor and a leading trading partner, with trade between the two countries exceeding $6.8 billion in 2023.

"Kenya values its long-standing economic partnership with China, which has significantly contributed to our national development. We are keen to enhance trade terms and investment flows to create more opportunities for our people," CS Mbadi stated.

Minister Lan Fo’an reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s economic agenda, including financing infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and expanding cooperation in renewable energy and digital transformation.

CS Mbadi was accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, Kenya’s Ambassador to China Willy Bett and senior economic advisors from the Executive Office of the President, David Ndii, Adan Mohammed and Haron Sirima.

The meeting marked a renewed commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth, securing favorable trade agreements, and strengthening financial collaboration between Kenya and China.