Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Thursday held talks with China’s envoy Ambassador Sun Baohong, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, in September.
The Ambassador, who paid the First Lady a courtesy call at State House Nairobi, commended Kenyatta’s vision in advocating for quality healthcare in Kenya through the Beyond Zero initiative. Ambassador Sun said China was ready to scale up its partnership towards the initiative’s goals.
China’s First Lady, Professor Peng Liyuan, has organized a programme to run alongside the FOCAC summit, where Kenyatta is due to give the keynote address before an audience of 40 African First Ladies.
According to a statement on the Kenyan First Lady’s official website, the theme of meeting on 4 September will be “The AIDS Prevention and Control Advocacy”.
“It is because of your passion and devotion in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Ambassador Sun.
China meanwhile was applauded for supporting the Beyond Zero campaign over the last four years, and was singled out for providing specialized medical equipment worth Sh15M ($150,000), which saw six health facilities benefit in Nairobi and Tana River counties.
“We look forward to more collaboration,” said the First Lady.
Ambassador Sun further pledged her country’s help in training midwives to boost maternity services in Kenya.
