Kenya and China on Tuesday celebrated the conclusion of the 2025 Kenya–China Culture and Tourism Season with leaders from both nations acknowledging the initiative’s success in fostering people-to-people exchanges, enhancing cultural cooperation, and promoting institutional partnerships over the past six months.
Speaking during the closing ceremony in Nairobi, held in conjunction with Chinese New Year celebrations, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan described the Season as a “vivid demonstration” of the strengthened China–Kenya relationship following President William Ruto’s State Visit to China in April 2025.
“From stages to screens, from the competing arena to the delicacies on the dining-table, from the heated discussions in classrooms in China to the magnificent savanna of Kenya, these diverse activities have vigorously advanced the people-to-people and cultural exchanges, further strengthened friendship between our two peoples, and made positive contributions to the building of a China–Kenya community with a shared future,” Ambassador Guo stated.
The Culture and Tourism Season featured a variety of flagship events, such as the opening ceremony, live coverage of the Wildebeest Migration, the China Animated Film Festival, the Kenya Wushu National Championship, the Africa Championship of Chinese Cuisine, and the China–Kenya Friendship Games.
Organizers noted that these events engaged audiences in both countries and enhanced cultural visibility in sports, film, cuisine, and heritage.
Ambassador Guo noted that the initiative aligned with the consensus of the two heads of state and reflected the overall enhancement of bilateral relations. She expressed gratitude to Kenyan and Chinese institutions, cultural organizations, private sector actors, and individuals for their contributions to the program’s success.
Principal Secretary for Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, praised the initiative for solidifying Kenya–China cultural cooperation across media, education, heritage, tourism, and the creative economy, thereby reinforcing Nairobi’s status as a regional diplomatic and cultural hub.
“This Season has especially been significant, following the State Visit by H.E. The President, Dr William Samoei Ruto, to the People’s Republic of China, in April 2025, and in view of the changes in the geo-political landscape. We have increased bilateral visits of senior government officials to each other’s Capitals, as well as cooperation in many diverse fields and more people-to-people interactions,” Bashir noted.
She highlighted tangible outcomes, including training programs in which 131 Kenyan officials and professionals in culture, heritage, tourism, sports, and the creative economy received training in China during the Season.
Bashir also commended China for providing scholarships to thousands of Kenyan students over the years, thereby strengthening human capital development.
She further cited ongoing collaboration in heritage and research, such as the Sino-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project around Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria, which has yielded internationally recognized findings on human origins and bolstered scientific cooperation.
Other milestones included a Kenya–China media content-sharing agreement, the launch of the China–Kenya Film Festival to support the film industry, cooperation through Confucius Institutes in Kenyan universities, partnerships in museology, and “tea diplomacy” initiatives connecting Kenyan and Chinese tea masters to develop joint products for export markets.
“These multifaceted avenues of collaboration underscore the enduring and dynamic cultural ties between Kenya and China, fostering mutual respect and shared growth,” Bashir remarked.
The year 2026 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. Ambassador Guo announced that this year has been designated the “China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.”
“China stands ready to work with African countries, including Kenya, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, carry forward traditional friendship, combine the strengths of the Global South, and advance together towards a community with a shared future for humanity,” she affirmed.
She also reiterated China’s commitment to opening its vast market to global partners, stating that China will continue to pursue innovative, green, open, and high-quality development while providing “even more opportunities for the international community.”
