Renthia Kaimbi
China and Namibia have pledged to deepen economic, diplomatic and people-to-people cooperation following the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Namibia community with a shared future for the new era.
Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping said the new framework, agreed during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to China in July, had opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
Zhao made the remarks on Tuesday evening during a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Windhoek to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The reception was attended by former President Nangolo Mbumba, international relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Philipus Katamelo, gender equality and child welfare minister Emma Kantema, Swapo Party secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and other senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
According to Zhao, President Xi Jinping and Nandi-Ndaitwah agreed to elevate bilateral relations during the Namibian leader’s state visit, which he described as a milestone in the development of China-Namibia ties.
He said the agreement demonstrated the political commitment of both governments to taking bilateral relations to new heights.
“Although China and Namibia are about ten thousand miles away from each other, we have always been fellow travellers and true friends,” Zhao said.
He said the two countries had maintained mutual respect and support since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, with cooperation extending to trade, infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, culture and multilateral affairs.
Zhao said China would continue supporting Namibia’s development ambitions through development cooperation, trade and investment, particularly in line with the country’s sixth National Development Plan.
He said China would support Namibia in benefiting from China’s zero-tariff policy and in advancing industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.
The ambassador also highlighted President Xi’s three proposals for building a China-Namibia community with a shared future, namely strengthening mutual support, deepening cooperation and maintaining solidarity in defence of multilateralism.
He said Xi had also outlined three principles for China-Africa cooperation in the mining sector including mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, friendly consultation and breaking new ground.
“These important principles will be the key guidance for the Chinese side to further develop China-Namibia relations and deepen practical bilateral cooperation with Namibia,” Zhao said.
Ashipala-Musavyi, who was the guest of honour, said Namibia remained committed to strengthening the longstanding friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.
She conveyed congratulations from the Namibian government and people on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The minister identified several areas where Namibia seeks to expand cooperation with China, including industrialisation, investment, mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, green hydrogen, logistics, digital infrastructure, tourism and health.
She emphasised that future cooperation should also focus on skills development, technology transfer, local value addition and greater access for Namibian products to the Chinese market.
Ashipala-Musavyi further highlighted education, vocational training, scholarships and cultural cooperation as important areas for strengthening people-to-people relations.
Her remarks come as Namibia seeks to increase local processing and value addition to its mineral resources while attracting investment into sectors identified as critical to economic transformation.
Zhao used the occasion to outline China’s economic transformation since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.
He said China’s gross domestic product had grown from more than RMB60 billion to over RMB140 trillion, making the country the world’s second-largest economy, largest manufacturing country and largest trading nation in goods.
He also cited China’s poverty-reduction programme, saying 770 million rural residents living below the country’s poverty line had been lifted from poverty since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978.
Zhao said China’s contribution to global economic growth had remained around 30% for many years.
He said the Chinese economy generated about RMB70 trillion in the first half of this year, recording 4.7% year-on-year growth.
According to Zhao, China’s development in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and new energy was creating new sources of economic growth.
He said China’s continued opening-up and large industrial and consumer markets could create further opportunities for developing countries.
The ambassador also reaffirmed China’s support for multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter, saying Beijing would continue promoting what it describes as a community with a shared future for mankind.
This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
Zhao said China would continue pursuing high-standard opening-up and high-quality development while creating more opportunities for cooperation with developing countries.
For Namibia, he said, the focus would remain on expanding practical cooperation and strengthening exchanges between the two countries, particularly among young people, as well as in media, culture and the arts.
“I am confident that, with our joint efforts, the tree of China-Namibia friendship will flourish even more, and the road of bilateral cooperation will become even wider, and the future even more promising,” Zhao said.
The reception concluded with Zhao and Ashipala-Musavyi proposing a toast to the health of Nandi-Ndaitwah and Xi, the prosperity of China and Namibia, and the continued friendship between the two nations.
