Bo Xilai, Chinese commerce minister, speaks during the third session of the China-Kenya Joint Trade Committee in Nairobi April 28, 2006. The meeting was held on Friday during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, with Kenya recognizing the market economy status of China and both sides pledging to enhance trade. (Xinhua Photo)

NAIROBI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The third session of the China-Kenya Joint Trade Committee was held here Friday during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, with Kenya recognizing the market economy status of China and both sides pledging to enhance bilateral trade.

    The meeting was jointly hosted by Bo Xilai, minister of commerce of China, and Kenyan Minister of Trade and Industry Mukhisa Kituyi.

    Kituyi stated that in order to make the Sino-Kenyan relations closer and ensure the continued, healthy and deepened development of the bilateral trade and economic relationship, the Kenyan government announced to recognize the market economy status of China.

    Bo Xilai commented that the Kenyan government's decision on the recognition had demonstrated the attitude and resolve of Kenya to pursue fair and equitable trade, and had reaffirmed the friendship between China and Kenya as well as the sound basis for developing bilateral trade and economic relations.

    During the meeting, both sides exchanged views and reached broad consensus on the promotion of a balanced development of bilateral trade, the encouragement of the expansion of Chinese investment in Kenya, the intensification of cooperation in the multilateral area as well as other topics of mutual interests.

    The two ministers also signed the Minutes of the 3rd Session of the Joint Trade Committee and relevant inter-governmental economic and technological cooperation agreements.

    Hu Jintao arrived here Thursday on a three-day state visit to Kenya, the last leg of his five-nation tour which has already taken him to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Nigeria. Enditem