China-Botswana relations continue to blossom
Katlego Motsamai | Friday January 27, 2017 16:36
Speaking at the reception for the 2017 Lunar New Year, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Zhao Yanbo indicated that the year 2016 saw a fruitful development between the two countries.
“Last month, I signed an agreement with the Botswana government, by which China will provide P125 million to construct a school in Kazungula. This is the third school to be helped by China for Botswana and the fourth one would soon be concluded through another agreement this year,” he said.
He added that China and Botswana have committed to their economic growth. Both countries’ economies are very supplementary to each other, Zhao said, adding that China has been a reliable friend and partner of Botswana. “China has maintained being one of the biggest consumers of Botswana’s diamond, and it continued to provide assistance within its ability, including BOT50 calisthenics technical cooperation, fund for protection of the wildlife, scholarship studies, skill training programmes and many others,” he said.
He continued: “Let me assure you that, in the year of Rooster (which in the Chinese culture means an image of an early riser that works very hard and energetically), my embassy will work closely with Botswana government to further enhance our mutual political trust, actively explore our cooperation potentials, fully implement the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC, in order to elevate our bilateral friendship and cooperation in a new level”.
For his part, chairperson of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi NyD), Kgosi Puso Gaborone explained that the two countries enjoy cordial relations in areas of health, culture, sport, education and trade as witnessed by Chinese businesses across the country.
“The rational impact of China is not only enjoyed at national level. Over the years NyD Dikgosi has enjoyed a cordial relationship with People’s Republic of China, it has benefited from this association through a Memorandum of Agreement that has been signed between the House and the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU),” he said.
Gaborone explained that the signing of the memorandum, members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi have benefited from several cultural exchange programmes, which among others included numerous visits to China through invitations by CAFIU. The House benefited in terms of cultural exchange and promotion of people to people cooperation.
“I’m convinced that with our joint efforts, our friendly relations and pragmatic cooperation will bring about more fruit for our two countries,” Gaborone added. He urged Botswana communities to harness this platform, to grow it to another level and harvest a lot from each other, create more interactive platforms out of it, especially in the area of culture and performing arts.