Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Beijing on Friday, jointly announcing the elevation of bilateral ties to a China-Namibia community with a shared future for the new era.
Xi pointed out that China and Namibia have a profound traditional friendship and common development aspirations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always adhered to equality, mutual support, and the friendly cooperation has continuously deepened, effectively benefiting the two peoples.
China is willing to enhance exchanges of development concepts and alignment of development strategies with Namibia, and move forward hand in hand on their respective paths of modernization, Xi said.
Xi put forward three points of proposal on the building of the China-Namibia community with a shared future in the new era.
First, the two sides should firmly support each other and deepen the integration of concepts. Both sides should maintain close high-level exchanges and deepen the sharing of experience in governance. The two countries should maintain regular communication on overall and strategic issues in bilateral relations, and continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, Xi said.
Second, the two countries should tap the potential for cooperation and lift the level of cooperation, Xi said.
Noting that China has expanded its zero-tariff treatment to cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, Xi expressed the hope that Namibia will make full use of the policy, as well as green channels for products exported to China and other preferential policies, so as to enable more high-quality products from Namibia to enter the Chinese market more quickly.
China is willing to deepen cooperation with Namibia in areas of infrastructure construction, energy, minerals, agriculture, education, youth, and science and technology, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries to continuously reach new heights, Xi said.
Third, the two countries should adhere to unity and cooperation, and uphold multilateralism.
Noting that China and Namibia are both important members of the Global South, sharing extensive common interests and similar value pursuits, Xi said the two countries should enhance unity and cooperation, firmly support each other, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.
China is willing to continue to enhance coordination and cooperation with African countries including Namibia, and enhance the momentum and strength of the Global South, so as to make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.
Xi pointed out that China is willing to continue to strengthen mining cooperation with African countries including Namibia based on the principles of mutual benefit and win-win result, friendly negotiation and a pioneering spirit.
Noting that friendship between Namibia and China has a long history, and the relations between the two countries have been developing at a high level for a long time, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia attaches great importance to its relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle.
She expressed willingess to learn from China's experience, strengthen unity, consolidate mutual trust, and expand cooperation.
Namibia is willing to expand trade with China, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Namibia, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation between the two sides in areas of industry, mining, infrastructure, aerospace, science and technology, agriculture, and hydro-power resources to help Namibia's economic and social development, she said.
For a long time, China has provided selfless support and assistance to African countries including Namibia, and has maintained a fair position in international and regional affairs. Namibia is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
After the talks, Xi and Nandi-Ndaitwah jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents in fields of economy and trade, medical and health care, education and human resources.
The two sides issued a joint statement on building a China-Namibia community with a shared future in the new era.
President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan also held a welcome banquet for Nandi-Ndaitwah and her husband Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah on Friday evening.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is in China for a state visit from July 5 to 11 at the invitation of Xi.
China, Namibia announce to build community with shared future for new era
