China is ready to further promote friendship and cooperation with Kenya, said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Thursday when meeting with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

Wen expressed appreciation for Kibaki for cherishing relations with China, and actively promoting cooperation with China in various fields, saying that China and Kenya enjoy a sound basis of bilateral relations and share a common desire for further promoting their relations.

Kenya is an important nation in east Africa with good basis for economic development.

China is willing to maintain the tradition of supporting and helping each other with Kenya in international arena, and take more active measures to expand bilateral trade and increase cooperation in the fields of agriculture, telecommunication and infrastructure construction.

Wen said China and Africa are sincere friends and partners. "The Chinese government always attaches great importance to Africa, and is ready to work with African nations to safeguard interests of developing countries, seek common development and make efforts for pushing forward the new-type China-Africa partnership," he noted.

Kibaki said his country and China have always enjoyed stable, all-around and healthy bilateral development with close exchange at various levels.

"Kenya values the traditional friendship with China, will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, and is ready to further enhance cooperation with China in politics, economy, and culture," he said.

Kenya is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international affairs and to make joint efforts with China to safeguard the interests of developing countries, he said.

Kenya and other African nations are ready to continue to cement unity and cooperation with China, and work with China in safeguarding world and regional peace and stability, eliminating poverty, and achieving common development, he noted.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)