Chinese visit to boost trade

BUSINESS

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong this week paid an official visit to Namibia, Botswana and Cameroon for talks on trade and cooperation.

Trade volume between China and Africa this year alone is expected to exceed USD150 billion.

The Chinese delegates met Cameroon President Paul Biya, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Botswana Vice President Mompati Merafhe in several days of official visits.

China has close ties with many African nations, with cooperation agreements and trade in the areas of science and technology, infrastructure, agriculture and construction, among others.

President Biya told Liu that the government and people of Cameroon admired China's miraculous economic achievements that also benefit the world, and the effective governing of the country with a 1.3 billion population.

In Namibia, Liu said China had allocated a grant of around USD5 million for various projects. Her country also decided to sponsor 200 scholarships to Namibians from 2012 to 2016.

In Botswana, Liu said strengthening China-Africa relations is an important cornerstone of China’s foreign policy, as well as a long-term and firm strategic choice. China is ready to work with African countries including Botswana and take the opportunities of fully implementing the outcomes of the fourth Ministerial Meeting of China-Africa Cooperation Forum and preparing for next year’s fifth Ministerial Meeting to continue to promote the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to a new level.