Tourists have fun at a temple fair held at a scenic spot in Mengshan Mountain of Pingyi County, Linyi City, east China's Shandong province, Feb 10, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

NAIROBI – Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday extended warm wishes for the Chinese New Year, vowing to enhance friendship between Kenya and China.

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, China's most important festival, fell on Feb 10 this year.

Ruto said that over the period, Kenya and China have forged and enjoyed warm and strong relations based on friendship, mutual trust, and commitment to progress.

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"As you welcome the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes good health, good luck, power, strength, and wisdom, it is our desire that the government and people of Kenya will progress along the path that we have jointly charted for the Kenya-China strategic partnership," the Kenyan president said in a statement issued in the capital of Nairobi.

He said the two friendly countries have both nurtured strong relations to a strategic partnership not only for mutual benefit.

"I also confirm to you that members of the Chinese community in Kenya receive the support they need to feel at home away from home, as they make their contribution to the transformative partnership between Kenya and China," Ruto said.

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Kenya and China celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Dec 14, 2023.