President Ruto calls for a new global order as Africa and China deepen ties
In a historic speech delivered in Beijing on May 1, 2025, President William Ruto of Kenya outlined his vision for a new global order, calling for reforms in the UN Security Council, global financial systems, and a renewed focus on Sino-African partnerships. He positioned Africa as the next economic powerhouse, with a workforce that will account for a quarter of the world’s total by 2050. The President also advocated for climate justice and a more inclusive and equitable global framework, one that acknowledges Africa’s critical role in shaping the future.
President William Ruto has called for a renewed Sino-African partnership and a bold reimagining of the global order during a landmark speech delivered in Beijing.
In a speech themed “Reimagining Multilateralism for a Shared Future,” President Ruto discussed the transformative potential of Sino-African cooperation, highlighting key infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that have significantly reshaped Africa’s regional connectivity. These projects, including roads, ports, and the Standard Gauge Railway, are crucial for integrating Africa and expanding its infrastructure network.
However, despite these successes, President Ruto warned that the global institutions designed to manage global challenges are in dire need of reform.
« Even as we celebrate these achievements, we must confront a sobering truth: the post-war multilateral system is broken, dysfunctional, and no longer fit for purpose. The escalating trade tariff war may be its final death blow, » he said, emphasizing the need for structural changes in global governance.
China has become Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest trading partner, with over 3,000 Chinese companies operating across the continent, primarily in the private sector. Yet, President Ruto stressed that the Sino-African relationship must evolve beyond trade, addressing global challenges such as climate change, economic disruptions, and security threats.
We gather at a time of profound and accelerated global change… These challenges are opportunities; opportunities for renewed partnership, bold thinking, and a reimagined global architecture
« We gather at a time of profound and accelerated global change. From regional conflicts, economic shocks, and climate disruption, to cyber insecurity and demographic shifts, the challenges we face today are complex, interconnected, and urgent. But within these challenges are opportunities; opportunities for renewed partnership, bold thinking, and a reimagined global architecture, » he said.
The President also delivered a scathing critique of the United Nations Security Council’s failures, urging for radical reform.
« The Security Council, once a beacon for peace and diplomacy, now has one permanent member invading one country, while another member takes sides in conflict, in contradiction to the Council’s own resolutions. Yet today, the permanent members live in denial and resist reform, even as the Security Council becomes less and less legitimate and its relevance is being put into question, » President Ruto stated.
He proposed a new, inclusive framework for global peace and security: « We must therefore imagine a new peace and security architecture, one rooted in democracy, equity, transparency, and equal regional representation. It is my view that the security architecture of the world should be representative of the five continental blocks — the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East — with equal representation for each region. »
Regarding economic governance, President Ruto argued that institutions like the IMF and the World Bank are outdated, having been created when two-thirds of today’s nations did not even exist as sovereign states. He identified four intertwined challenges within the existing global financial system:
« First, the challenge of liquidity for climate and economic shocks. Second, inadequate finance for development and climate action. Third, the high cost of capital, which we are calling the ‘great financial divide.’ Fourth, the recurring debt crises in developing countries, a consequence of the first three. »
The President also made an urgent appeal for climate justice, stating: « Africa, despite contributing the least to global emissions, bears the greatest burden through floods, droughts, displacement, and food insecurity. Thirty COP conferences later, national interests still stand in the way of global collective action, even though the atmosphere has no national boundaries. »
On Africa’s rising demographic power, President Ruto noted that by 2050, the continent will account for a quarter of the world’s workforce, a key indicator of its growing economic strength. « At 19, Africa’s median age is less than half of Europe’s (45 years) and comparable to China’s median age in the mid-70s. By 2050, Africa will account for a quarter of the world’s workforce — the same proportion as China today. If the first half of this century belongs to China, the second half will belong to Africa, » he remarked.
However, President Ruto stressed that the partnership between Africa and China should extend beyond infrastructure and trade, embracing cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges.
« We must move from transactional engagement to transformational partnership, one grounded not just in infrastructure but in arts, culture, history, and shared aspirations, » he concluded.
President Ruto’s visit to China marks a decisive call for a just and inclusive global system, with Africa positioned at the heart of this transformation.
