STORY: BRI brings development, peace and stability to African countries: expert
DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:11
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative
2. SOUNDBITE (English): DENNIS MUNENE MWANIKI, Executive Director, China-Africa Center
3. various of infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative

STORYLINE:

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing in October.

Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) brings development to African countries, which is the foundation of peace and stability.

SOUNDBITE (English): DENNIS MUNENE MWANIKI, Executive Director, China-Africa Center
"The Belt and Road Initiative, it's not only just an infrastructure connectivity initiative but more so it has its five pillars, which are the policy coordination, we have the trade promotion, we have financial connectivity, we have people-to-people exchanges and also we have infrastructure development, but one of the things that are stood out for Kenya and also for Africa is that the development has been massive whereby it has helped Africa, whereby Africa is growing with that. We've seen almost approximately 100,000 km of roads that have been constructed. We've also experienced around 10,000 km of railroad, also experienced around 1,000 bridges that have been constructed and also around 100 ports. All these have helped Africa to have the economies grow. They've helped my country especially Kenya when it comes to the issue of the SGR, which has just been one of the brainchildren of the Belt and Road Initiative. It has helped Kenya to grow in terms of its GDP, in terms of it expanding its transport, and also easing of goods and all that.
We want to continue our relationship with China because China does not interfere with our internal governance structure or internal issues, but more so China is helping us to develop, and development is key for our own growth.
For us to enjoy stability we need development, and that's what the Belt and Road Initiative is bringing. Development is stability and without development we cannot have peace."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)