Leaders of Mombasa County, led by Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi, attended the 1st 21st Century Maritime Co-operation Committee in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China.
Kingi received the appointment certificate on behalf of Governor Hassan Ali Joho as a co-president of the committee that seeks to re-establish trade and investments routes of cities and local governments of Asia-Pacific, Southeast, South Asia and Africa through the Maritime Silk Road.
The DG gave an acknowledgement speech on behalf of the governor, as indicated below:
"Your Excellency,
Mr Song Jingwu Vice President of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Counties and President of the Maritime Silk Road Cooperation Committee,
Your Excellency,
Mr You Mengjun Major of Fuzhou City and President of the Maritime Silk Road Cooperation Committee,
Dr. Bernadina Irawati Secretary General UCLG ASPAC,
Representatives of Candidates for Co-Presidents,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with profound reverence and humility that I stand before you on behalf of the Governor of the County of Mombasa, H.E Hassan Ali Joho, to express my sincere delight and gratitude for his nomination as a Co-President of the Maritime Cooperation Committee.
It is an honour, which we accept with reverence as we look forward to serving with zeal and dedication.
In recognizing the honour bestowed upon Governor Joho I am minded to recognize the vision of the Presidents of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Kenya in executing various bilateral treaties and agreements that paved the way for county and municipal interactions like the one we are witnessing here.
It would also be remiss of me not to recognize the distance our relationship has traversed since the arrival of Admiral Zheng He in Mombasa whilst leading one of his historic fleets to the Indian Ocean. The marvel of that achievement is mirrored in this historic occasion.
The promise that the Maritime Silk Road Initiative holds for the County of Mombasa and indeed the Republic of Kenya has already been witnessed by the various economic and trade initiatives undertaken by our two countries.
The significance of H.E The Governor’s service as Co- President of this the prestigious Maritime Cooperation Committee is both weighty and momentous.
I therefore stand before you respecting the magnitude of this occasion and carrying Governor Joho’s pledge and indeed as-surance to serve with dedication and humility.
I thank you all."