Nairobi, 29th July, 2008. H.E. Ambassador Zhang Ming held a send-off party in honor of the Kenyan athletes who are leaving for China to attend the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Hon. Dr. Helen Sambili, Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Richard Onyonka, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs,Hon. Kabando Wa Kabando, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, Chairman of the National Olympics Committee of Kenya,Mr. Douglas Sidialo, Chairman of the National Paralympics Committee of Kenya, members of the Kenyan teams to Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, representatives of Chinese community in Kenya, journalists from both Chinese and Kenyan sides attended the party.

In his speech, Ambassador Zhang briefed the guests on the well-done preparation works for the Games, extended warm welcome to the Kenyan teams to Beijing and wished Kenyan athletes great achievements in the Games and bring back home more medals. The government and people of China were fully confident to host a successful Games despite facing some difficulties such as devastating earthquake that hit some areas in southwestern China this year, said Ambassador Zhang.

On behalf of the Kenyan side, Dr. Sambili, Hon. Onyonka and Dr. Keino expressed deep gratitude to Ambassador Zhang for the encouraging reception, and promised that the Kenyan athletes would hold up high the spirit of Olympics and tried their best to set new records.