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China-Kenya relations date back to 14 December 1963, two days after the formal establishment of Kenyan independence, when China became the fourth country to open an embassy in Nairobi.[1] Military exchange between the two countries has been increasing in the past decade. General Liu Jingsong, commander of the Lanzhou Military Region, led China's first military delegation to Kenya in December 1996; Major General Nick Leshan, commander of the Kenyan air force, paid a return visit in 1997.[2] Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki visited Beijing in August 2005.[3]
Bilateral trade amounted to US$186.37 million in 2002; China exported US$180.576 million to Kenya, while only importing US$5.798 million of Kenyan goods, mainly black tea, coffee, and leather.[2] Chinese state-owned oil company CNOOC has signed oil exploration deals with the Kenyan government, under which they will prospect for oil in Kenya's coastal waters. No formal estimate has been given on the possible reserves. In April 2007, the Jinchuan Group, a state-owned metal manufacturing group, became the first Chinese company to enter Kenya's mining sector, purchasing a 20% stake in Tiomin Kenya.[4]
[edit] List of Chinese ambassadors to Kenya
- Wang Yutian (April 1964 - June 1969)[5]
- Wang Yueyi (September 1974 - January 1979)[5]
- Yang Keming (April 1979 - June 1984)[5]
- Wei Yongqing (December 1984 - November 1986)[5]
- Xue Mouhong (December 1986 - June 1989)[5]
- Wu Minglian (August 1989 - February 1993)[5]
- Chen Pingchu (April 1993 - October 1996)[5]
- An Yongyu (November 1996 - November 2000)[5]
- Du Qiwen (December 2000 - March 2003)[5]
- Guo Chongli (April 2003 - August 2006)[5]
- Zhang Ming (September 2006 - present)[5]
[edit] References
