'China is our all-weather friend'

ELLANIE SMIT

The cordial relations between Namibia and China were underscored by President Hage Geingob yesterday following months of news coverage about Chinese nationals involved in poaching and the uncovering of a multibillion-dollar tax-evasion scam.

In his State of the Nation Address yesterday Geingob said he wanted to address the relationship between Namibia and China, and specifically referred to media coverage.

In March the Chinese embassy in Namibia said there had been overwhelmingly negative news coverage about Chinese citizens and China in the local media, with more than 70 negative reports on China, mostly on wildlife crime, reported since January.

Geingob yesterday said China and Namibia’s relationship remained strong and the two countries were “all-weather friends”.

He said Namibia and China stood together in fighting corruption and crime, as well as condemning xenophobia and intolerance.

Geingob said the relationship with China was not built on personalities.

“It is a state-to-state relationship spanning many decades and based on the principles of mutual respect and trust.”

Geingob said that just like Namibia does not condone illegal behaviour by its citizens in other countries, Chinese authorities had given the assurance that they too did not condone the illegal conduct of their citizens abroad.

“The two countries stand together in this. We would also like to reiterate that we fully support the One China policy.”

Geingob also elaborated on Namibia’s relationships with other countries and said that Namibia and Africa shared a common destiny.

He singled out the contribution made by what he referred to as two of Namibia’s closest allies, namely Angola and Cuba, towards Namibia’s independence.

He said Angola was not only home to thousands of Namibians in exile, it was the main rear base from where the country’s armed struggle was planned and waged.

As for Cuba, no other country outside Africa had contributed as selflessly as Cuba had to the attainment of Namibia’s freedom.

“We will forever cherish this true solidarity. The Cubans never came to plunder and take away our resources. They only came to assist and requested nothing in return.”

He further said that Namibia’s relationship with Germany remained cordial and said that Germany was one of its biggest development cooperation partners.

Geingob said that the Namibian government continued to engage Germany in order to resolve the long outstanding issue of the genocide.

Geingob said the relationship with other countries, including the United States, the European Union, Russia, India and South Africa, was equally outstanding.

“We are mindful that there are still people in the world who do not enjoy their full rights. Namibia sympathises with nations denied their right to self-determination,” said Geingob.