A Chinese media delegation visited the Kikuyu indigenous community in Kenya's Githirioni Uplands on Tuesday, the first such visit by a Chinese press team to the traditional heartland of the country's largest ethnic group.
Githirioni Uplands lies about 30 kilometers from capital city Nairobi and is a traditional home of the Kikuyu community.
For generations, people in the community have relied on farming as their primary livelihood, with social order upheld by elders and traditional chiefs.
The chief of the Githirioni Uplands Kikuyu community said that this was the first Chinese media delegation they had hosted.
"Chinese people are very good. You see they are making roads here. They are doing everything for us. That's why we are very happy with them. They are very good people and they are hardworking," said Baba Gitau, chief of the Githirioni Uplands Kikuyu community.
Chinese journalists pay historic first visit to Kenya's Kikuyu tribe
As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a Chinese international affairs expert cautioned that a lasting peace remains elusive unless fundamental disputes over territory and security guarantees are addressed.
The Chinese expert's remarks came after U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday in efforts to revive Ukraine peace talks. They are also scheduled to visit Kiev the following day.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt strikes on each other's capital during the U.S. envoys' visits.
Teng Jianqun, a prominent Chinese international affairs expert, noted that the current geopolitical climate presents a genuine, albeit fragile, window of opportunity for peace.
"Looking at the current situation, this is indeed a window of opportunity. Since February of this year, the United States has primarily focused its attention on dealing with Iran. Now, six months later, Washington is once again urging a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, signaling that the U.S. has readjusted its strategic focus. In terms of battlefield dynamics, fighting on the frontline has become highly deadlocked. Therefore, it is a critical moment now for both sides to pause and negotiate a resolution to this conflict," said Teng.
Teng added that the U.S. has maintained communication with both Moscow and Kiev, which lays a necessary foundation for discussing a potential ceasefire.
However, the expert warned that significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty and the security guarantees that Ukraine demands.
"Given the current situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expecting Russia to withdraw, or asking Ukraine to accept a 'land for peace' plan, are both unacceptable to either side. Therefore, the core issue remains to be territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, Ukraine's security guarantees represent another fundamental concern. If these two basic issues are unresolved, I believe the conflict will continue," said Teng.
Expert warns U.S. unlikely to end Ukraine crisis without resolving core issues
