Cooperation with China brings development opportunities to Botswana: Chinese ambassador

Cooperation with China will bring vast development opportunities to Botswana as China boasts a wealth of development experience and cutting-edge technologies in a wide range of sectors ranging from infrastructure, new energy to the digital economy, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said.

Botswana, located in southern Africa and long reliant on its diamond industry as a key economic pillar, is seeking to reduce its dependence on a single commodity and advance its industrial transformation.

From infrastructure development and local talent cultivation to green energy and the digital economy, practical cooperation between China and Botswana is opening new avenues for development.

In the town of Jwaneng, a 100-megawatt photovoltaic power station project has become a key example of clean energy cooperation between the two countries.

China's technology and industrial expertise provide Botswana with broader options for expanding renewable energy applications. Bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development dates back even further.

As projects are implemented, technology, experience and skills are also being accumulated. From enterprise cooperation to the cultivation of emerging industries, Botswana looks forward to leveraging China's development experience and technological strengths to broaden the pathways for its economic transformation.

Ambassador Fan said new energy, e-commerce and the digital economy have also become key areas for both sides to expand cooperation.

"In the areas of e-commerce and new energy applications, China's advanced technologies can help create new opportunities for Botswana's development. Particularly in the field of digital economy, relevant authorities of both sides are also discussing potential areas of cooperation that will bring many new opportunities for future development," he said.

Jaloni Pansiri, former dean of the faculty of business at the University of Botswana, said the two countries would deepen bilateral interaction especially in business.

"Moving forward, I think to enhance the interaction between China and Botswana, there is need for collaboration between Chinese businesses and Botswana businesses. Also I'm interested in strategic alliances, such as joint franchise. This would help to increase the interaction between China and Botswana," he said.

Cooperation with China brings development opportunities to Botswana: Chinese ambassador

The U.S. consumer sentiment kept falling in October for the third month in a row, as purchasing power continued to dominate consumer views of the economy, according to findings of a survey released on Friday.

The final reading released by the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers showed that the Index of Consumer Sentiment weakened to 48 in the October 2026 survey, 0.2 percent below September, and 10.4 percent below a year ago. The index was also 15 percent less than in February, just prior to the Iran conflict.

The Current Economic Conditions Index fell to 46.7, down from 50.9 in September and below last October's 58.6. The Index of Consumer Expectations inched up slightly to 48.8 from 46.3 in September, but was still below last October's 50.3.

Year-ahead inflation expectations in October ticked up from 4.6 percent in September to 4.7 percent. Long-run inflation expectations also stepped up from 3.4 percent in September to 3.5 percent. Inflation expectations over both time horizons increased for the second straight month to their highest readings since May.

The survey noted that Americans' dissatisfaction with how high prices are affecting their living standards continued to grow. In October, the share of consumers reporting that high prices are dragging down their personal finances rose for the fourth consecutive month to 56 percent, up from 45 percent in January.

US consumer sentiment continues to slip in October over inflation