Kenyan President visits Shanghai

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said in Shanghai Tuesday that Kenya and China have enjoyed successful trade relations and his visit will inevitably promote further economic cooperation.

Kibaki said at a luncheon on Kenya and China business cooperation in Shanghai that he hopes to exchange views with the Chinese leaders on further development of the bilateral trade relations.

Shanghai is the first stop of Kibaki's five-day state visit to China. He met with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng Monday night. On Tuesday Kibaki visited the ZTE R&D Center and the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Kibaki said it was quite impressive and encouraging to see China's fast economic development over the last 20 years since its introduction of the reform and opening-up policy.

Kibaki said Kenya is trying to improve the domestic investment environment in order to attract more foreign investment.

He cited a number of favorable factors for foreign investment in Kenya, namely, a stable political environment and economic policy for foreign investment, convenient market access, abundant natural and human resources, streamlined tax system and relatively good infrastructure.

As a gateway to the East and Central African market, Kenya has been trying to reduce the cost of business operations to improve security in the country, he said.

In Kenya, tourism achieved a year-on-year increase of 51 percent last year and the number of tourists from China doubled, he said.

"We are looking forward to opening of direct flights with major Chinese cities," Kibaki said. "The direct flights and the fact that Kenya has become a Chinese tourist destination will bring more Chinese tourists to Kenya."

This is Kibaki's first visit to China since he served as president of Kenya in 2002.

Source: Xinhua