Geingob cements Nam-China relationship

"Namibia attaches great importance to relations with China. Our
relations have stood the test of time, remaining steadfast in
times of upheaval, a true example of all-weather friendship. It is
these historic and solid ties that necessitate the need to elevate the framework of our bilateral cooperation," President Hage Geingob told delegates in the Great Hall in Beijing, China today.
He reiterated the cooperation between the two countries, including in infrastructure development, health, human
capacity development, agriculture, culture and high-level exchanges.
He said China is an "important bilateral partner in our
development agenda for which the sole objectives are poverty eradication, sustainable economic
development and inclusive prosperity for all".
"In solidifying our partnership I am pleased that we will be able to conclude several agreements.
Our current global environment is dominated by the proliferation of information technologies, an area in which China has made great progress. Namibia seeks to draw
from Chinese expertise in this area."
Growth in trade between the two countries has increased exponentially with preliminary figures showing a growth of 107%
from US$242 million recorded in
2007 to US$501 million in 2017. "Growth in our trade relations has been aided by mutual trust, solidarity and the pursuit of enhanced cooperation. China is one of our largest export markets and among the top five trading partners."
He concluded by saying "this visit to China should allow us to expand our partnership and open new areas of cooperation, so as to fully optimise the immense untapped potential that exists between our two countries in terms cooperation. Namibia intends to build a
relationship with China centred on win-win partnerships."

STAFF REPORTER