President William Ruto has defended Kenya's cooperation with China in the wake of criticism of the relationship by the United States.

While China is a critical trading partner for the United States, it is also a major competitor. The two biggest global economies have been at loggerheads, with the US accusing China of engaging in harmful and unfair economic practices.

President Ruto said Kenya's cooperation with China is mainly in the spirit of multilateralism.

In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ruto stated that multilateralism, a system where multiple countries collaborate to achieve common goals, was key to achieving fairer trade.

President William Ruto speaking during the signing of seven deals by Chinese companies that intend to invest in Kenya with new projects.

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“We should be working more with multilateralism than unilateralism. We believe that multilateralism has greater safeguards and provides an even environment for trade, for nations across the world,” Ruto said.

“Because, as things stand today, globalisation of trade is an existential imperative. I do not think that any one company in the world can survive on its own. In that way, it is only multilateralism that will guarantee global trade,” he added.

Ruto took the opportunity to call upon the United States, which is heavily anti-China, to be more open towards Kenya’s engagement with the Asian nation. He argued that no country, on its own, the US included, could provide solutions that would be beneficial for all.

“What is good for the US must be good for Kenya. Otherwise, we will not have a win-win outcome. A win-lose outcome will always eventually resort to everybody losing,” Ruto said.

The latest comes after US Senator and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch raised concerns over Kenya’s growing ties with China, calling for a reassessment of the relationship between Kenya and the US.

Responding to Ruto's recent visit to Beijing, Senator Risch warned that Kenya’s deepening partnership with China signals more than just an economic partnership and could indicate a shift in global allegiances.

Speaking during a Senate hearing on East Africa and the Horn of Africa on Tuesday, May 13, Risch pointed to Ruto’s remarks where he declared that Kenya and China are “co-architects of a new world order”.

According to the Senator, such comments reflect a high level of alignment with China that should prompt the US to reconsider its engagement with Kenya.

“Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are co-architects of a new world order.” That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance,” the statement read in part.

During his China trip, Ruto signed deals amounting to Ksh100 billion spanning across several areas of development in Kenya’s economy. 

A photo collage of United States President Donald Trump (left), President William Ruto (centre) and China President Xi Jinping.

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