WINDHOEK – Trade and economic co-operation has expanded rapidly between Namibia and China over the past 25 years with the Asian giant’s investments in Namibia having increased to US$4.6 billion (N$44.6 billion) by 2014.
Chinese investments in Namibia resulted in the creation of over 6 000 jobs for locals.
One of the major Chinese investments in Africa is Husab Uranium Mine in Erongo, which went into operation in 2014 creating over 2 000 permanent jobs mostly for Namibians, stated Xin Shunkang the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia.
He said this yesterday at a function at the Chinese Embassy to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-Namibia diplomatic relations attended by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Peya Mushelenga and scores of members of the diplomatic fraternity.
China wants to help Namibia to fulfil its dream for Vision 2030 and will strive to “create a new era of our all-round co-operation for the benefit of our two peoples. Let’s look forward together to another glorious 25 years of mutual trust and support, mutual benefit and common prosperity”.
“China-Namibia economic and trade co-operation has developed very fast in 25 years, from which our people have benefited greatly,” Xin told the scores of people gathered at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, adding, “Our trade volume reached US$863 million (N$9.4 billion) in 2014 – 16.78 percent more than that of 2013.
“We also have active people-to-people exchanges. Art troupes from Liaoning, Tianjin and other parts of China visited Namibia in recent years and raised the passion of the local people on Chinese culture,” he said.
Namibian youths are very keen to learn Chinese and currently there are over 300 Namibian students that are studying at universities in China.
“Last June, the 16th Chinese Navy Escort Fleet in Aden Bay successfully visited Namibia for the first time. These exchanges have helped deepen our mutual understanding and consolidated the public opinions for our friendship,” expounded the Chinese ambassador.
He also noted, “25 years is just a flash in history, but we have witnessed great achievements in our friendly co-operation”.
The Chinese Embassy is also co-hosting a photo exhibition with the National Museum of Namibia and Xinhua News Agency in Windhoek.
The photo exhibition, taking place at the Independence Memorial Museum, opened yesterday and the embassy will also host a Chinese film week and a table tennis tournament both in Windhoek.
“The national leaders of our two countries attach great importance to our bilateral relations, which constantly enhance our political mutual trust,” he stated and also used the event to praise the founding president Dr Sam Nujoma, who has so far visited China 18 times.
He described Nujoma as, “a pioneer, promoter and witness of our friendship. He is an old friend of Chinese people and very renowned in China for his great contribution to our relations.”
On the President Hage Geingob he said Geingob visited China in 2014 and addressed the Boao Forum for Asia 2014 Annual Meeting as the only representative from Africa and that he, “talked to the new national leaders of China on our all-round cooperation in the future”.
“We express sincere gratitude to the outstanding work of our national leaders in promoting our friendship, which we believe, will be promoted to a higher level under the leadership of our new governments,” concluded the ambassador.