China throws weight behind Swapo manifesto goals

Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping has pledged strong support for the Namibian government’s efforts to realise the goals set out in the Swapo Party manifesto and implementation plan.Last year, China committed to funding several multimillion-dollar projects, including a N$1 billion police housing initiative, a N$80 million borehole drilling project, as well as smart city pilot and social housing schemes.A Chinese delegation visited Namibia in October last year to conduct feasibility studies for these projects.Although the Chinese embassy could not provide details of when the proposed projects will start, they confirmed the visit, with Zhao telling the media on Tuesday that good progress has been made.According to the embassy, the two governments are preparing to exchange documentation to formalise the agreement.The Chinese government announced its commitment when former president Nangolo Mbumba visited China in September last year to attend the 2024 Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit.Zhao said China’s funding of the projects reflects its strong support for the Swapo Party’s manifesto and implementation plan.Aid, customs support In addition, the ambassador added that the first batch of Chinese food aid arrived in Namibia in January and was distributed to affected communities."The second batch will arrive soon. Meanwhile, we are also working hard to expand China’s imports from Namibia,” he said.Moreover, Zhao noted that earlier this month, Wang Lingjun, vice minister of the general administration of China customs, visited Namibia and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Namibia Revenue Agency to strengthen customs cooperation and promote trade facilitation.“He [Wang] also signed the agreement with Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, on the inspection, quarantine and hygiene requirements for mutton and chevon to be exported from Namibia to China."The two sides are also actively discussing the export of Namibia’s other agricultural and aquatic products to China,” the ambassador said.Close friendshipZhao highlighted the vast potential for investment cooperation between the two nations. “The Chinese government will continue encouraging Chinese enterprises to expand their investments in Namibia," he said. "We also keep in close consultation with each other in the areas of agriculture and vocational training cooperation,” he added. Zhao recalled that Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made Namibia the first stop on his annual Africa tour in January, during which he met with then-president Mbumba and Namibia’s current president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.Highlighting the support and friendship between the two countries, he added: “In February, at the request of the Namibian side, the Chinese side sent eight pilots to assist in the mission of our Namibian friends to transport the remains of Namibia’s late founding father Sam Nujoma to various memorial services across the country.”He noted that in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping appointed a special envoy to attend Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inauguration, during which the envoy paid a courtesy call on the newly sworn-in head of state.“We highly appreciate the reaffirmation by the new Namibian government to deepen China-Namibia cooperation, and the Chinese side also attaches great importance to the bilateral relationship,” the ambassador said. "We hope and believe that, with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Namibia relations will achieve even greater development in the next five years and bring even bigger benefits to our two peoples,” Zhao added. nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

China throws weight behind Swapo manifesto goals

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-10

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China throws weight behind Swapo manifesto goals

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-10

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