China, Botswana establish comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Botswana's President Duma Gideon Boko announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as they met in Beijing on Tuesday.

Commending the two countries' traditional friendship, Xi said China and Botswana should continue to support each other's development and contribute to global development and progress.

"I have said that the friendship between China and Botswana should shine as brilliantly and endure as long as a diamond. This is a vivid portrayal of the course of our bilateral relations. In the 1970s, before the two countries established diplomatic ties, Botswana voted in support of restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the United Nations. Today, as we pursue our modernization dreams hand in hand, we are writing a new chapter in China-Botswana friendship. We should remember the path we have traveled of mutual support and reliance, and follow the broad road of developing China-Botswana relations in the new era, contributing to global development and progress. To this end, I propose that our two countries elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," Xi said.

Boko, who is on a state visit to China from Oct 12 to 17 at Xi's invitation, expressed his gratitude for the visit which began with a trip to east China's Fujian Province, where Xi served for many years as a senior provincial official.

"Let me thank you for inviting me to visit China, this great, beautiful country. My visit into China began with a brief sojourn in Fujian [Province], where Your Excellency [President Xi] served in a very remarkable way for 17 and a half years. That example is what Botswana will take and Botswana would like to emulate. We are grateful to have this opportunity to meet with you," Boko told Xi.

China, Botswana establish comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

Cuba issued Decree-Law 135 on oil and gas on Monday to attract investment in exploration and production amid a worsening energy crisis.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines held a press conference on the new decree, stating that the measure aims to better meet the country's demand for fuels and derivatives and support the restoration of the national power system.

While stressing the country's energy sovereignty and jurisdiction over its energy resources, the new legislation promotes investment in the energy sector by domestic and foreign enterprises through more diverse cooperation models, according to Pedro Abigantus, director of the ministry's directorate of investments and oil and gas Businesses.

"Previously, foreign participation was limited to production-sharing contracts. Now, we are including other models, such as oil concessions, since there are investors who prefer that approach. We therefore view these as incentives -- measures that help attract more investment. Opportunities are also open to domestic investors," he said. The decree is part of Cuba's economic reform to cope with pressure from the prolonged U.S. embargo, which features comprehensive economic, financial and trade restrictions and has been intensified this year by a de facto fuel and oil blockade targeting shipments to the country.

Cuba issues new oil, gas decree to increase output amid energy crisis