By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
The outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Liang Yinzhu, yesterday bade farewell to the Speaker of the National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab.
Yinzhu, who spent four years in Namibia, said he is scheduled to leave early next month and will be retiring from the Foreign Service after delaying his retirement by a year.
The outgoing ambassador said he has enjoyed his stay in the country and the cooperation between the two counties has grown. He said the two countries are now closer than ever before.
Yinzhu said President Hifikepunye Pohamba has visited China twice already, while his predecessor the Founding President Sam Nujoma also visited China twice.
The Chinese President Hu Jintao also visited Namibia earlier this year during his tour of African states.
Yinzhu said the trade volume between the two countries has increased three times since 2003 and the countries have mutual cooperation agreements in the areas of railway, information and communication technology and telecommunications.
The outgoing Ambassador also noted that there are now more Namibian students studying in China and his country is providing scholarships to many of these students.
He said in 2003, there were only five students studying in China compared to 21 students who are now studying in that country.
He also thanked Namibia for supporting China on international matters such as the unification of China.
He said China will always be grateful to Namibia and they are confident that they can always count on Namibia’s support on international matters.
On his part, the Speaker said it is a sad occasion because the ambassador has not only been successful, but also cultivated a personal friendship with many ordinary people, including himself and his family.
Gurirab said the relationship between Namibia and China, which started in 1960 when a 31-year-old Nujoma met the then Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, would continue to flourish.
The Speaker said the relationship between the two countries should expand and translate into the bigger concept of the China and Africa cooperation.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister said he is happy to see that China is making great progress in empowering its people and improving their living conditions.
He said he hopes that Africa will pull up its socks and effectively participate in global trade, and that more African governments democratise.