Botswana's friendship with China is key to the southern African country's push to rapidly industrialize and diversify its mining-dependent economy, said Botswana's Minister for International Relations Phenyo Butale.
Speaking on a Chine Global Television Network (CGTN) program set to air this week, Butale discussed the mutual benefits derived from the 50 years of diplomatic ties between Botswana and China, shedding light on the unique nature and impact of this long-standing connection.
"The important thing to note is that this relationship endured because it was anchored on collaboration much more than influence. It was more of a friendship of friends who are willing to assist one another," said Butale.
"This has now happened in a number of sectors, health for example, cooperative initiatives have happened that have improved our healthcare access. We have had scholarships and training programs for Botswanan students," he said
According to the minister, the government's commitment to expand its economy beyond its historical reliance on diamond mining has intensified as Botswana navigates its changing economic landscape.
"We believe as the new government that our diversification drive must start within the diamond sector by participation through all the value shape. This needs skill set that I believe that countries like China could assist on. And when you look at technical assistance in terms of infrastructure projects, we have benefited immensely from the technical expertise from China. So, I think it's really heartwarming to say that the relationship has been beneficial to us as a country and we believe that there is a lot of room for us as we move much more aggressively. As I said, we are in a hurry to create jobs, we're in a hurry to industrialize," Butale said.
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Botswanan President Duma Boko exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Botswana.
Relations with China drive Botswana's economic diversification: minister
Relations with China drive Botswana's economic diversification: minister
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
