China and Kenya have reiterated their commitment to furthering diplomatic and military relations between the two countries as the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi celebrated the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army on Thursday evening.

High-level government and military officials and diplomats gathered at the embassy for a commemoration that highlighted the expanding strategic cooperation between China and Kenya in defense, peacekeeping and international cooperation.

Kenya Army Commander Lieutenant General David Keter hailed the PLA as "one of the oldest, largest and most successful armed forces of the world", and talked about the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

"Today's commemoration is more than a celebration of the founding of the PLA," Keter said.

"It is a moment to mark the enduring friendship our two countries have shared for decades — a friendship of mutual respect, trust and increasingly deepened understanding between our peoples and our militaries."

Keter hailed the PLA for its evolution into a modern, professional army, renowned worldwide for its professionalism, innovation and dedication to its people.

He observed that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have derived wide benefits from its deep cooperation with the PLA, in terms of its training programs, staff courses, as well as defense exchanges that deepened the KDF's strategic capacities and enriched its international experience.

"These exchanges have expanded our strategic focus, deepened our capability and given our people exposure to new ideas and new technologies," he added.

He further pointed out that bilateral cooperation has gone beyond defense training into cultural and historical exchanges, enabling both sides to better appreciate each other's traditions, values and security imperatives.

"Through this robust and open exchange, our armies have grown closer, sharing experiences in areas such as disaster response, peace support operations, counterterrorism and capacity building.

"These lessons have strengthened our ability to adapt and respond to emerging security challenges with confidence and competence," he said.

Senior Colonel Zhao Peng, China's defense attaché to Kenya, offered a reflective account of the PLA's long history, tying its origins to China's hardships and victories throughout the 20th century, particularly during World War II.

"Peace does not come easily and should be deeply valued," Zhao said, reflecting on the heavy toll of China's 14-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression from 1931 to 1945, during which more than 35 million people were killed or injured.

He emphasized that today's PLA plays a vital role in global peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.

"Since 1990, the PLA has taken part in 25 UN peacekeeping missions, sending over 50,000 peacekeepers to more than 20 countries and regions," he noted, adding that China is now the largest contributor to peacekeeping among the UN Security Council's permanent members.

Zhao said the PLA remains deeply engaged in protecting lives well beyond China's borders, with ongoing collaborations involving joint training, personnel exchanges, counterterrorism and defense industry development.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, while expressing pride in the PLA's 98-year history, praised the army as not only a protector of China's sovereignty but also as a contributor to global peace and security.

"This is a force the Chinese people can fully trust," she said, noting the PLA's growing involvement in international peacekeeping and defense diplomacy.

She also emphasized the wider historical significance, noting that this year marks 80 years since the triumph in both China's resistance against Japanese aggression and the global fight against fascism during World War II.

"It's a powerful reminder that peace must be defended and cooperation must be nurtured," she said.

victor@chinadailyafrica.com