Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said yesterday that the just concluded China-Africa Beijing summit is a major milestone in defining the future of China-Africa cooperation.

On arriving in Nairobi from his five-day visit to China on Tuesday morning, Kibaki said: "I am glad to inform Kenyans that the Beijing summit was a major milestone not only in defining the future of China-Africa cooperation but also in securing crucial commitments by the Chinese government to support development projects in Kenya and on the African continent."

He said the Beijing summit also provided an opportunity to market Kenya, and the continent as a whole, as an investment destination to Chinese investors.

"In inviting Chinese investors into the country and the continent at large, I pointed out that African countries have implemented a wide range of measures to improve the investment environment," the Kenyan president said.

"I am happy to note that at the continental level, the Beijing summit marked the beginning of a new strategic partnership between China and Africa in which China has undertaken to increase investments in Africa," he said.

Kibaki said, considering the importance of foreign direct investment, trade and aid to development in Africa, he is optimistic that, as a nation, Kenya will benefit immensely from the new development partnership with China.

"I take this opportunity to assure Kenyans, as well as government and the people of China, that my government will fulfill its expectations under the declaration of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation for the mutual benefit of Africa and China," Kibaki said.

"I also take this opportunity to challenge Kenyans to rise to the occasion and take full advantage of opportunities arising from this new partnership," the president added.

President Kibaki was among other African heads of state and government who attended the Beijing summit. During his visit, Kibaki held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in which the Chinese government agreed to support Kenya's development efforts in various fields including infrastructure development, capacity building, health and social welfare.

Besides the bilateral commitments, Kibaki launched Kenya's tourism marketing campaign in China where he encouraged more Chinese tourists and investors to visit Kenya.

The number of tourists from China has continued to grow since the Chinese government granted Kenya the approved destination status leading to the increase in number of Chinese visitors to Kenya by 31.4 percent last year.