Hilma Nalupe

The Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, has reaffirmed the strong relationship between China and Namibia, while further outlining the key outcomes from recent global and domestic policy events led by China. Zhao addressed the media during a press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Windhoek yesterday.

The briefing outlined the outcomes of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women recently held in Beijing, the newly launched Global Governance Initiative (GGI), and the status of China–Namibia relations.

The ambassador noted that China’s long-term vision is to achieve developed-country status by 2035 and, in doing so, continue contributing to global growth and cooperation.

Zhao also highlighted China’s continued commitment to advancing women’s empowerment globally. This follows the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, held in Beijing from 13 to 14 October, attended by Namibia’s deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade, Jenelly Matundu.

“In the next five years, China will invite 50 000 women to China for exchange and training programmes and establish a Global Centre for Women’s Capacity Building. We believe this important meeting on women has brought the world together in Beijing to consolidate consensus further and inject new momentum into the global cause of women,” he said.

Turning to China’s new Global Governance Initiative, Zhao explained that it builds on earlier Chinese-led frameworks such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. The GGI promotes five core principles: adhering to sovereign equality, living under the rule of international law, practicing multilateralism, a people-centred approach, and taking concrete action to advance fairer and more democratic global governance.

“By proposing GGI, China aims to promote greater democracy in international relations and to safeguard the interests of the global south,” he said. He further praised the 2025 African Union summit, noting that, for the first time, it has adopted the theme ‘Justice for Africa and people of African descent through reparations.’ 

“China understands Africa’s demands from the West to make reparations and rectify historical injustices. This is the exact purpose of the GGI, to promote a just and equitable global governance system,” emphasised Zhao.

Zhao concluded by reaffirming China’s strong bilateral relations with Namibia, noting that several high-level engagements have taken place this year, including a special envoy meeting between with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the beginning of the year, a ministerial meeting attended by the Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi in China and a working group to Namibia.  

According to Zhao, during the first eight months of this year, China-Namibia bilateral trade grew by more than 25%, and China is not only a major investor in Namibia, but also sees a growing number of Chinese companies showing interest in investing in Namibian businesses.

He added that China continues to align its cooperation with Namibia’s national priorities.

“China has been following the implementation of the sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6) closely, because we want to align our developmental assistance programmes to it to complement the efforts of the Namibian government,” he said.

The ambassador emphasised that China remains committed to supporting Namibia’s development agenda and strengthening economic and political cooperation between the two countries. 

-hilmanalupe@gmail.com