Visiting top political advisor Jia Qinglin met in Nairobi Thursday with Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), and Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, said the Chinese government pays great attention to the improvement of human habitat construction. Jia, who arrived here Monday on an official good-will visit as guest of the Kenyan government, briefed them on China's achievements in housing reform and construction.
He reviewed China's efforts for environmental protection and accomplishment in the past years in this regard. Jia spoke highly of the contributions made by the two organizations to the construction of human habitat, sustainable development, and international environmental protection and cooperation, as well as their cooperation with China.
China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the two organizations and to make its due contributions to the construction of human habitat and environmental protection, noted Jia.
The two directors spoke highly of China's positive policies and achievements in these fields and said they will continue to strengthen cooperation with China and support China in human habitat construction and environmental protection.
After the meeting, Jia, along with Kenyan President MwaiKibaki, attended the ground-breaking ceremony at the Nyayo National Stadium for the municipal 22.5-km road-upgrading project of Nairobi.
Jia said it is another important project for Kenya and China to deepen their cooperation and hoped it, under efforts from both sides, will be put into use at an early date so as to benefit the local people.
Kibaki said the project will help improve the road and traffic situation in Nairobi and its surrounding areas, and Kenya hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China.
Kenya is the last leg of Jia's visit to four African countries, which has already taken him to Tunisia, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)