President William Ruto sent a message of goodwill to the People’s Republic of China which is celebrating its New Year in February 2024 dubbed the Year of the Dragon.
The head of state in a statement on February 10, 2024, expressed his best wishes to Chinese people and voiced past relations and expectations for the future of the country’s relationship with Asian nation.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya and that of my own, I convey to Your Excellency and through you to the Government and People of the People’s Republic of China, best wishes for a Happy Chinese New Year 2024,” said President Ruto.
In his statement, the head of state noted that it is the government’s desire that the two countries will progress along with the path that they have jointly charted for the Kenyan Chinese strategic partnership.
Also, Ruto highlighted that the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations on 14th December 2023.
“Over the period, Kenya and China have forged and enjoyed warm and strong relations based on friendship, mutual trust and commitment to progress, and which we have both nurtured to a strategic partnership not only for mutual benefit,” he added.
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Ruto further sent a message to members of Chinese community living in Kenya noting that they receive and will continue receiving the support they need to feel at home away from home.
This, according to the head of state, has been and is the main factor for the Chinese community as they make their contribution to the transformative partnership between the two countries.
China Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays celebrated in the country and across various Asian communities.
This unique new year comprises an annual 15-day festival which starts with the new moon between January 21 and February 20 in the western calendar.
In 2024, the Chinese New Year falls on February 10 and ends on February 24 with the Lantern Festival. Welcoming the Year of the Dragon, this special event follows the Chinese Zodiac (Sheng Xiao) tradition.
The tradition attributes each year to one of the twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
These animals are rotated in sequence based on a fable about them racing and the order in which they finished.
Also Read: Why China Celebrates New Year in January or February
Chinese New Year differs from the ‘standard’ western New Year’s Day because it is based on the traditional Chinese calendar rather than the Gregorian one.
Ruto visits China
Kenya has maintained strategic diplomatic relations with the country over the years which has seen the Chinese get involved in many development projects in the country.
In October 2023, President Ruto met China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss infrastructure development, trade and cooperation in the digital economy.
Also, Ruto secured investment deals worth Ksh688.7 billion with Chinese companies during the trip noting that some of the investments would go into existing projects and other would initiate new investments.
At the same time, both heads of states agreed to deepen cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to promote the steady development of Kenya and China comprehensive strategic partnership.
“These deals demonstrate the investors’ strong faith in China’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative, show profound faith in the dynamic Kenya-China Strategic Comprehensive Partnership, and exhibit tremendous confidence in Kenya’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda,” Ruto stated.
China abolishes visa requirements
A month later, the Chinese embassy in Kenya announced that it will be abolishing all Visa appointments for all Kenyans.
In a statement on Sunday, November 13, the embassy stated that the move would take effect starting November 20, 2023.
Further, the Asian nation explained that the removal of the visa requirement would help the two nations facilitate trade and exchange between Kenya and China.
“Applicants can submit their visa applications directly to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Nairobi during working hours,” the statement read in part.
