NAIROBI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday sent a message of goodwill to the Chinese people ahead of New Year festivities to be marked from Tuesday.

The Kenyan leader in his salutations underscored the long-standing friendship between Nairobi and Beijing that has unleashed benefits across the social, economic, political and cultural spheres.

"It is a pleasure to send our best wishes to the people of China, and to all those who will celebrate the Chinese New Year beginning this Tuesday," said Kenyatta.

"The friendship and partnership between Kenya and China is very old; in recent years, we have drawn even closer together, with tight cooperation now across a whole range of areas, from industry to infrastructure," he added.

Chinese nationals will celebrate the 2019 New Year or Spring Festival beginning Feb. 5 amid pomp and pageantry.

The 2019 Chinese New Year called the Year of the Pig will provide an opportunity for family reunions and celebration of timeless cultural values and norms that have defined the Asian country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has visited China four times since he was sworn into office in April 2013, in his New Year message hailed bilateral ties with the world's second largest economy.

"That cooperation has changed the lives of ordinary people in both countries: here in Kenya, we see it most clearly in the Standard Gauge Railway, the region's most ambitious infrastructure project," said Kenyatta.

He said the China funded modern railway project has reaffirmed the mutual benefits that are likely to be unlocked against a backdrop of robust ties between Nairobi and Beijing.

"I look forward, as do the people of Kenya, to working with China, a true partner and friend, in the year to come," said Kenyatta.

China has become the leading trading partner and source of foreign direct investments in Kenya since the two countries established diplomatic relationship more than 50 years ago.