Masisi in China: A renewed impetus for economic diplomacy

In addition, the governing Botswana Democratic Party’s close ties with the Chinese Communist Party make them strange bedfellows. Yet China was President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s first choice for a state visit since assuming office a few months ago. This signals an improved and more pragmatic approach to Botswana’s foreign policy in contrast to former president Khama’s ‘megaphone-style’ diplomatic approach. Masisi seems to be more interested in economic diplomacy: he wants to intensify the employment of both state and private business apparatus to support business, trade and investment promotion between Botswana and the rest of the world.

However cringe worthy China’s internal politics are, you can’t deny the impact that this rising powerhouse has on the rest of world. Wherever the Xi Jinping bandwagon is heading in the next decade, we will need to jump on it.