Peking University, April 25, 2025: H.E. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, visited Peking University with a delegation on April 23 and gave a speech, during his state visit to China.
President of Kenya William Ruto visits PKU with a delegation
As the first African head of state to visit China after the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, Mr. Ruto showed a high regard for cultural exchanges, educational cooperation, youth development, as well as support for Peking University.
Warmly welcoming Mr. Ruto and his delegation, He Guangcai, Chair of PKU Council, pointed to the time-tested China-Kenya friendship and deepening strategic cooperation between the two countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
He Guangcai then affirmed PKU’s commitment to working with Kenya in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC and building an all-weather partnership with Africa, as a way to enhance solidarity among the global south.
Mr. Ruto accepts PKU souvenir presented by He Guangcai
Gong Qihuang, President of PKU, stated that as one of the first Chinese institutions to admit African students, PKU had built a deep understanding of the continent and had had notably successful collaborations with African institutions in multiple areas. He expressed hope to deepen cooperation in education, technology, cultural exchange, etc., as an effort to elevate friendship between the two countries.
In his speech addressed to PKU students and faculty in attendance, Mr. Ruto praised PKU for its extraordinary academic achievements and expressed expectation for more cooperation between Kenya’s higher education institutions and their counterparts in China.
Mr. Ruto gives a speech to PKU students and faculty
Mr. Ruto then delineated his visions for necessary reforms to make international financial and security organizations more representative and efficient. He said that as the world was going through unprecedented changes, the international community needed to strengthen a collective response to global headwinds, including debt crisis, trade conflicts, climate change, etc.
“In a world where globalization is no longer an option, but an existential imperative, any polarization is undesirable, unnecessary and untenable.”
After the speech, Mr. Ruto answered questions from students, touching on global climate response and Kenya’s efforts to modernize its economy. He exhorted the youth to devote themselves to building a bond of affinity between China and Kenya.
Chinese and Kenyan students raise questions to Mr. Ruto
Mr. Ruto’s delegation included his wife Rachel Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, and other Kenyan officials. Chinese dignitaries and PKU officials in attendance included Guo Haiyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Kenya; Zhao Lei, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education; Chen Baojian, Executive Vice Chair of Peking University Council; Gu Tao, Vice Chair of Peking University Council; and Fang Fang, Vice President of Peking University.
Written by: Chen Shizhuo
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Photo by: Li Xianghua
