WINDHOEK, March 30 — The traditional relations between Namibia and China have deepened over the years, translating to a strategic partnership that has yielded fruitful results, a local expert said Tuesday.
Lameck Odada, an economist at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, in an interview with Xinhua, said that the two countries have built solid ties over the years through cooperation in sectors such as education, infrastructure development, agriculture, sports, trade, and health, among others.
“If one observes closely, besides broader diplomatic ties and political mutual trust, the approach, key projects and programs have been human-centric, impacting the lives of many locals,” he said.
He said China’s role in constructing major infrastructural development projects, including the port of Walvis Bay, road infrastructure, airport upgrading, rail, and the dual carriage-way, has also strengthened and strategically positioned Namibia’s presence in the regional and continental trade arena.
“Namibia is a gateway for trade to many countries. And in recent times, many of the projects were either constructed or upgraded by China,” he added.
The economist suggested the two countries expand into new areas of cooperation such as financial technology, easing conditions of trade processing, and value addition of agricultural products.
The latest records by Namibia Statistics Agency show that China emerged as the main export market for Namibia in January 2022, absorbing 32.3 percent of all goods exported, ahead of South Africa in the second position with a share of 18.3 percent. (Xinhua)
