China expands diplomatic outreach with Kenya, Azerbaijan visits amid trade tensions

Fresh off a tour of Southeast Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host Kenyan President William Ruto and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev this week in Beijing, furthering China’s diplomatic efforts with developing nations in response to the ongoing trade war with the United States.

The separate visits by Ruto and Aliyev come at a time when China seeks to deepen ties with countries that can support its growth agenda, particularly as tensions with the US continue to escalate, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

According to Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, Beijing has consistently turned to the developing world when faced with pushback from Western powers. "Whenever China encounters tension, pushback, and isolation from Western countries, it pivots harder toward the developing world," Nantulya explained, citing past instances such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xi’s recent diplomatic moves in Southeast Asia included visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, where he oversaw the signing of numerous agreements aimed at strengthening economic ties. As the world's second-largest economy grapples with deflationary pressures and the ongoing trade war with Washington, China is working to bolster its position globally, particularly through deepening relationships with developing nations.

Kenya, which has become an increasingly important partner for China in Africa, is expected to benefit from these strengthening ties. President Ruto, who visited Beijing last September for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, is likely to seek further investments and support for Kenya’s infrastructure projects. China's trade with Africa has nearly doubled in the past decade, reaching $295 billion in 2024.

Similarly, President Aliyev’s visit underscores Azerbaijan's growing interest in deepening ties with China. Aliyev, who previously met with Xi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan last July, is keen to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, and high-tech industries. Azerbaijan’s strategic position as a trade link between China and Europe, bypassing Russia, enhances its importance in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Azerbaijan's pivot towards China is seen as part of the country’s broader rebalancing of its foreign relations amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with European and Russian ties undergoing recalibration. Chinese companies, including solar energy giant Longi Green Energy Technology and electric vehicle maker BYD, have been instrumental in Azerbaijan's diversification away from oil and gas.

In a pre-departure interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua on April 21, Aliyev said that his country's cross-border "Middle Corridor" transport link will create new economic opportunities for Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, as he seeks to expand collaboration in renewable energy and high-tech industries.

By Vafa Guliyeva