In a high-profile diplomatic meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Xi Jinping of China held talks with Kenyan President William Ruto, who is attending the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The meeting, marked by a series of carefully articulated messages from Beijing, displayed China’s desire for deeper cooperation with Kenya under the banner of “sincere partnership,” a term signaling expectations at a time Kenya hasincreasingly spearheaded a West-leaning foreign policy under Ruto’s leadership.

President Xi Jinping emphasised the long-standing friendship between China and Kenya, dating back to their shared struggles for national liberation.

This friendship, he noted in a communique issued by Beijing, has only deepened as both nations pursue national rejuvenation.

Xi highlighted the success of their bilateral relationship, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has seen the completion of several flagship projects, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, significantly contributing to Kenya’s connectivity and economic development.

However, President Xi’s remarks carried a nuanced message as he laid out a vision for the future of China-Kenya relations.

He proposed that the two nations should become “three types of partners” — sincere partners of mutual trust, cooperative partners of mutual benefit, and strategic partners upholding fairness and justice.

The emphasis on being “sincere partners” suggested that Beijing seeks a genuine alignment with Nairobi’s policy direction, reflecting underlying concerns about Kenya’s recent diplomatic tilt towards the West under President Ruto.

Xi urged that China and Kenya should “firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions.”

This statement can be read as a subtle reminder to President Ruto of the importance of respecting Beijing’s core interests, particularly on issues where Kenya’s recent foreign policy has appeared more aligned with Western stances.

President Ruto, while expressing gratitude for the hosting of the FOCAC Summit, highlighted the strong foundation of Kenya-China relations, built on “deep friendship, mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit.”

He praised the achievements of their cooperation, citing the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway as a new symbol of Kenya-China partnership.

Ruto expressed hope that the summit would serve as a catalyst for further development of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Ruto’s remarks appeared to reflect a delicate balancing act—acknowledging the benefits of Kenya-China cooperation while seeking expanded Chinese investment, particularly in connectivity, new energy, youth programs, and other key areas.

However, his comments about Kenya’s admiration and support for China’s global initiatives and the firm commitment to the one-China policy also seemed to address Beijing’s concerns about Kenya’s perceived diplomatic realignment.

President Xi’s emphasis on sincerity, mutual trust, and upholding fairness and justice in international and regional affairs was accompanied by a call for deepened coordination between China and Kenya on issues affecting the Global South.

He encouraged both sides to work together to safeguard common interests and promote regional peace and stability, hinting at a broader expectation for Kenya to align more closely with China on global platforms.

While Ruto affirmed Kenya’s readiness to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China and extend “firm support” to each other, the message from Beijing was clear: Kenya, under Ruto’s leadership, is expected to maintain a genuine and committed partnership with China, rather than oscillating between competing Western and Eastern spheres of influence.