Maria David
NAMIBIA is set to play a prominent role in the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), both scheduled to take place in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
The meeting will take place from 11–15 June 2025.
This was announced by Ambassador Penda Naanda, the Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Naanda, since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has been recognized as Africa’s premier multilateral cooperation framework with China.
He said that it has effectively facilitated dialogue on crucial areas such as infrastructure financing, technology transfer, health, education, and environmental sustainability.
“The upcoming Ministerial Meeting, held one year after the September 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing, will serve as a platform to review progress on previously agreed outcomes and identify remaining actions for implementation,” he said.
He added that this meeting coincides with FOCAC’s 25th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in China-Africa cooperation.
Naanda revealed that the Namibian delegation will be led by Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, who accepted the invitation from His Excellency Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.
He added that the delegation comprises representatives from both the public and private sectors and aims to deepen strategic partnerships with China.
Naanda explained that their focus will be on promoting economic diversification, infrastructure development, sustainable resource management, and regional integration.
While in Beijing, Ashipala-Musavyi will also engage with her counterparts on various bilateral and multilateral initiatives and future collaborations.
Meanwhile, Naanda said that from 12–15 June 2025, Namibia will participate as one of the guest countries of honour at CAETE, a premier platform for economic collaboration between China and Africa.
“This expo offers Namibian entrepreneurs and investors a unique opportunity to connect with Chinese business leaders and showcase Namibia’s investment opportunities,” he added.
He added that the key sectors will include mining, tourism, agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, renewable energy, and fisheries.
The expo also provides an avenue for exploring new areas of economic cooperation and private-sector collaboration.
Ashipala-Musavyi emphasized the nation’s recognition of the importance of multilateral cooperation platforms like FOCAC and CAETE in fostering sustainable development and sustained economic growth.
“Our active participation underscores our commitment to building strategic partnerships with all our development and trading partners that will unlock opportunities for our citizens and position Namibia as a key player in regional and continental development,” she said.
She added that they are keen to engage with their Chinese partners and fellow African nations to share knowledge and explore investment possibilities in line with their national priorities.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
