Kenya opposes hegemonic tools such as trade barriers

Kenya firmly opposes hegemonic tools such as trade barriers and stands ready to work with China to promote trade and investment liberalization to realize prosperity for all countries.

During a state visit to China by Kenya President William Ruto last week, the president said Kenya is opposed to trade wars and appreciates China's positive role in upholding international justice, according to the Chinese embassy in Kenya.

While meeting with President Xi Jinping, Ruto said that "trade wars undermine the existing international rules and order," and that Kenya appreciates China's role as a stabilizer in the current volatile situation and China's efforts to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Global South countries, Guo Haiyan, Chinese ambassador in Kenya, said at a media briefing in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Tuesday.

The four-day state visit, concluded over the weekend, was the third visit of Ruto to have visited China, and his first state visit to China since taking office. He is also the first African leader to be invited to pay a state visit to China following the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last year.

The state visit came amid rising trade protectionism from the United States imposing universal tariffs, with China the main target.

Guo, who accompanied Ruto in the China visit, said the two heads of state had in-depth exchanges on major international issues of common concern. Xi stressed that there are no winners in tariff and trade wars, and China is willing to work with other countries to address various challenges through solidarity and cooperation, safeguard legitimate rights and interests, uphold international trade rules, and maintain international fairness and justice.

The two sides firmly oppose "new hegemonic tools" such as unlawful unilateral sanctions, decoupling, tariff barriers, and technology blockade, Guo said.

Guo said the visit has achieved fruitful results, with the signing of 20 cooperation documents in various fields such jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, education, vocational training, people-to-people and culture exchanges, and economy and trade.

Speaking about the US tariffs, Guo said China's position is consistence and clear.

"We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open to negotiation. If a negotiated solution is truly what the US wants, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing China, and seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual benefit."

Gao also denied recent remarks from the US that China and the US are having talks and may reach a deal soon.

"China and the US are not having any consultations or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal," she said.

"China will stand with countries worldwide, including Kenya, in solidarity and cooperation to tackle various challenges, protect legitimate rights and interests, uphold international trade rules, and defend international fairness and justice," she said.

Peter Kagwanja, CEO of the Africa Policy Institute, in Nairobi, said unilateralism and hegemony causes a serious threat to the global stability and development, especially to the global South countries.

"A new bout of populism, isolation, protectionism and other anti-globalization trends is undermining global solidarity and fueling trade wars," he said.

As a trusted friend of Kenya and Africa as a whole, China and Africa share similar aspirations and the two sides should work together to promote multilateralism and build a world that brings prosperity to all, he said.