Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has held high-level meetings with Chinese officials and business representatives in Sichuan Province, seeking to strengthen bilateral relations, expand trade opportunities and promote cooperation in sectors including agriculture and value addition of natural resources.
During her State Visit to China, President Nandi-Ndaitwah met with Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, as well as Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province.
The President was accompanied by Cabinet ministers and Namibian business representatives during the engagements, which focused on identifying areas of collaboration between Namibia and China.
Photos: Namibian Presidency
Nandi-Ndaitwah also held courtesy meetings with representatives from Sichuan Investment Group, China National Chemical Engineering, and Sichuan Development Holding Co., Ltd, as part of efforts to strengthen economic partnerships between Namibian and Chinese businesses.
Welcoming the President, Xiaohui expressed appreciation for Namibia choosing China as one of its first State Visit destinations outside Africa, saying the visit would provide an opportunity to further deepen existing relations and establish stronger trade links between businesses from both countries.
He said China supported Namibia during its liberation struggle and expressed confidence that the visit would contribute to expanding trade and bilateral cooperation.
Nandi-Ndaitwah thanked Chinese officials for the warm reception extended to her delegation, noting that Namibia-China relations were built on a longstanding friendship dating back to the country’s struggle for independence.
She said her administration was building on the foundation laid by Namibia’s Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma, and subsequent leaders to further advance cooperation between the two countries.
The President said the inclusion of Cabinet ministers and business leaders in the delegation reflected Namibia’s commitment to strengthening economic ties and creating opportunities for partnerships with Chinese counterparts.
She emphasised that Namibia was focused on adding value to its natural resources before export, saying this approach would support job creation and economic development.
“The visit provides Namibia and China with an opportunity to collaborate,” she said.
As part of the visit, President Nandi-Ndaitwah toured the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS), a comprehensive agricultural research institution specialising in areas such as crop and animal breeding, farming systems, livestock production, veterinary science, soil fertility and fertiliser management.
The institution consists of 18 scientific research institutes covering economic crops, feed crops, livestock and aquatic products, while supporting more than 80 research disciplines. The visit highlighted potential areas for agricultural cooperation and knowledge exchange between Namibia and China.
