Premier Li Keqiang Attends Signing Ceremony of Financing Deal on Mombasa-Nairobi Railway Project in Kenya and Delivers Speech: Construct Eastern Africa Transport Corridor and Build Bridge of China-Africa Friendship

In the morning of May 11 local time, Premier Li Keqiang attended the signing ceremony of the China-Kenya co-financing deal on the Mombasa-Nairobi railway project, together with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, and other leaders of the states in Eastern African region, as well as representatives from Tanzania, Burundi and the African Development Bank at the State House in Nairobi and delivered a speech. This project will be contracted by Chinese companies.

Li Keqiang said that he is very pleased to get together with leaders of African countries to discuss major plans in Nairobi. Your special presence at this signing ceremony indicates that all countries share the common desire to support the construction of the railway network in Eastern Africa. A country has to make the transportation infrastructure lead the way of its development. China is willing to share its technology and experience in railway construction with all parties and actively conduct cooperation with them in project design, construction, equipment, management, personnel training, financing and other fields.

Li Keqiang said that the realization of the interconnection in Eastern Africa and in Africa at large will significantly support the economic development of the African countries. Initiating from the China-Africa sub-regional cooperation, the Mombasa-Nairobi railway is a key project of jointly building the three major networks of African high-speed railway, expressway and regional aviation. China will strengthen the communication and coordination with relevant countries and the African Union (AU), and give full play of the financing function of the Chinese and African financial institutions. China also welcomes the active participation of a third party outside the region so as to realize the mutual benefits and win-win results.

The Eastern African leaders said that the Mombasa-Nairobi railway is Kenya’s first newly built railway in nearly a century, which will further improve the Eastern African railway network, enhance the transport capacity of the Eastern African countries, advance the interconnection and integration construction of the Eastern African region and boost the economic development of the countries in the region. The Eastern African countries thank China for its help and support, and expressed their willingness to work together with China to achieve an early completion of the railway so as to bring benefits to the peoples of the region.