Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta expected in Beijing next week for BRI Forum

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to travel to China next week to attend the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum, a Chinese government cross-national project that involves nearly 70 countries.

The name Belt and Road was coined in 2013 by China's President Xi Jinping. He drew inspiration from the concept of the famous Silk Road establishes some 2,000 years ago.

The initiative – initially known as One Belt, One Road – aims to eradicate poverty, create jobs, address the consequences of international financial crises, promote sustainable development, and advance market-based industrial transformation and economic diversification.

The BRI also aims to strengthen infrastructure, trade, and investment links between China and the rest of the world.

President Kenyatta last year hailed the BRI, saying it has the potential to lift the countries involved to better levels.

“I think it's just tremendous. Because what is the objective? The objective is to open up our economies, to trade. The objective is to encourage trade amongst us, connecting Asia, parts of Europe, the gulf regions, linking us all the way to the African continent, from the Eastern side of Africa all the way across the West. I believe it has a huge potential of a win-win situation for all who are involved,” he said.

Other than the Kenyan leader, dozens of Heads of State and government representatives are expected in Beijing for the Forum.

(CGTN)