Kenya and China have officially launched the 2025 China-Kenya Culture and Tourism Season, a landmark initiative designed to enhance tourism, strengthen cultural ties, and promote deeper connections between the peoples of both nations.

The colorful launch event, held on Friday night at Braeburn School in Nairobi, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, artists, and tourism stakeholders from both countries.

Speaking during the launch, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan described the initiative as a powerful platform for celebrating shared values, cultural richness, and the strong friendship between Kenya and China.

“There is broad space and huge potential for deepening cultural and tourism cooperation between our two countries,” said Ambassador Guo. “This initiative builds on the momentum from President Ruto’s recent state visit to China and reflects our commitment to a shared future.”

Ambassador Guo highlighted that the Culture and Tourism Season will feature a variety of events, including cultural performances, exhibitions, educational exchanges, and tourism promotion campaigns across both nations.

“With the China-Kenya relations being upgraded and entering the phase of building the China-Kenya community with a shared future, historic opportunities are emerging for further deepening and developing the bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” she stated.

Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Hanna Wendot Cheptumo echoed the ambassador’s sentiments, praising the long-standing partnership between Kenya and China across sectors such as education, media, and heritage preservation.

She said thousands of Kenyan students have benefited from Chinese scholarships, gaining valuable skills and exposure.

“Investment in human capital is crucial for Kenya’s development, as these students return with valuable skills and knowledge. Currently, there is a team of 20 freshly back from China where they received training on Intangible Cultural Heritage,” noted the CS.

She also highlighted the Sino-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project, which has made significant scientific discoveries around Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria, contributing to both academic knowledge and cultural tourism.

“It has uncovered significant findings at numerous sites, drawing major media attention and earning awards. The project has fostered cultural exchange and collaborative research,” she said.

Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa praised China as one of Kenya’s key tourism and development partners. He underscored the importance of cultural tourism in enhancing national identity and promoting economic growth.

“Culture remains the soul of a people, while tourism serves as one of the most powerful vehicles through which that soul is shared with the world,” Ololtuaa said. “This initiative directly supports our vision of positioning Kenya as a leading cultural tourism destination.”

The PS revealed that tourism accounts for over 10% of Kenya’s GDP and supports millions of livelihoods—particularly among youth and women. He welcomed the increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting Kenya and pledged ongoing collaboration in marketing, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.

The event also commemorated the 40th anniversary of China-Kenya acrobatic exchanges, culminating in spectacular joint performances by Kenyan and Chinese artists.

President Ruto and Chinese President Xi Jinping had previously committed to expanding youth exchanges and cultural dialogue during their recent bilateral engagements, reiterating that strong people-to-people connections are essential for resilient and inclusive diplomacy.