Windhoek
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who visited Namibia for the first time on Friday urged Chinese business people operating in the country to abide by the national laws.
“From the perspective of the Chinese government, we would like to ask each and every Chinese business – be it a state-owned enterprise (SOE) or private – to abide by the local laws and regulations. They must behave in accordance with the national laws, show their social responsibility and make friends with local people. They must also make their contribution to economic and social development,” he advised.
Over the years some Chinese businesses have reportedly been ill-treating locals, in contravention of the Labour Act.
Further, Wang said the purpose of his visit was to translate and turn cooperation into action, as announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Forum for China Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC) in Johannesburg, South Africa last year.
Wang said that in terms of the 10 Africa and China major cooperation plans, both countries have identified the priority areas and agreed on the basic framework of approaches to further cooperation.
Among priorities they agreed to address the power shortage, which is most urgent in Namibia, through solar and wind power cooperation. China also pledged to assist Namibia to create new growth areas through cooperation in the marine economy as well as ports.
Chinese President Xi and President Geingob both attended FOCAC.
Additionally, China pledged to help Namibia to ensure food security through cooperation in agriculture and technology transfers.
During the FOCAC summit, President Xi announced that China would help Africa to train about 200 000 personnel in the coming three years.
Foreign Minister Wang was hopeful that Namibia would take an important share from the agreement and that with better equipped personnel and professionals, Namibia would be able to accelerate its industrialisation and achieve economic independence.
Wang visited President Hage Geingob at State House where Geingob highly commended China for being a long standing friend of Namibia from the days of the liberation struggle.
Geingob also commended the new ways of thinking and specific measures announced by the Chinese president during the FOCAC summit, especially the 10 major cooperation plans.
“We are saying now that we are free those people must also come and invest in Namibia to create win-win situations to develop our country. We would like to have very useful economic politics and industrialisation with China and by so doing transfer technology and at the same time create national jobs,” he noted. Geingob expressed satisfaction with the current relations and cooperation between Namibia and China.
Wang further held talks with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation where she said it’s Namibia’s intention to put in motion a comprehensive programme to herald a structured implementation of the agreed commitment of both leaders.
Wang applauded Namibia for maintaining political stability and economic development.
Wang congratulated President Geingob for the initiative on poverty eradication, improving people’s lives and pursuing the second revolution in terms of economic development.
Wang pledged to support Namibia in maintaining its legitimate and lawful rights and interests in regional and international affairs.