Kenya Bolsters Cultural and Sports Cooperation with China, Demonstrating Commitment to Belt and Road Initiative
Kenya has taken significant steps to strengthen its bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of arts, culture, and sports, highlighting its commitment to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ababu Namwamba, the cabinet secretary for youth affairs, sports, and the arts, recently discussed his trip to China, which served to reaffirm the two countries’ dedication to robust people-to-people exchanges.
In August, Kenya and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the film industry, marking a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy between the two nations. Namwamba emphasized that this MoU has formalized film cooperation between the governments of Kenya and China.
The recent visit to China by Namwamba aimed to implement the MoU by facilitating exchange programs between the Kenyan and Chinese film industries, as well as fostering co-production arrangements among artists from both sides. During the trip, Namwamba also attended the Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation, which provided a platform for enhancing sports and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
Namwamba lauded the robust and productive cooperation between China and Kenya, citing notable projects such as the construction of the international sports stadium in Nairobi’s Kasarani neighborhood, the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, and the Nairobi Expressway as successful outcomes of this bilateral partnership.
Furthermore, Namwamba highlighted the potential for Kenyan youth to leverage China’s advancements in the digital space, specifically in artificial intelligence, to drive economic growth and foster self-reliance. He noted that China offers invaluable lessons to Kenya and other African countries on inclusive growth, emphasizing the opportunities to expand communication in sports, creative industries, music, film, theater, and other areas that can connect young people from both nations.
Kenya’s strengthened cooperation with China in arts, culture, and sports signifies the country’s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative while fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. It is expected that this collaboration will further contribute to infrastructure development and promote vital people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
