Li Zhanshu pays courtesy visit to Geingob

WINDHOEK, 16 MAY  – Chairman of China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Li Zhanshu and his delegation paid a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at State House on Wednesday.

Speaking at the occasion, President Hage Geingob said during his State visit to China last month, China’s President, Xi Jinping told him that Namibia-China relations have been elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership for cooperation.

“When I was told that, I did not quite understand what it meant until I was told it is the highest level accorded to China’s worldwide partners,” Geingob told the Chinese delegation.

He further stressed that it is an achievement Namibians should be proud of.

“This will mean that there will be comprehensive, consultative discussions, strategic planning or objectives to achieve our end-goal, then the partnership is of equals,” he said, adding that there will be transparency, accountability and trust.
Geingob also made reference to the 30 off-road anti-poaching pickup trucks and camping equipment worth N.dollars 15 million donated to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for its anti-poaching operations by China.

“We say therefore thank you very much for this cooperation,” he noted.

He also urged critics to assist Government rather than condemning Sino-Namibian cooperation.
In his response, Li said the friendship of Namibia and China was forged during the days of Namibia’s struggle for independence and that through the years, the Communist Party of China provided political, moral, military and economic support.

On Tuesday, the Namibian Parliament and China’s National People’s Congress signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two bodies cooperating to boost Namibia’s economic and industrial development.
The MoU focuses on the cooperation of parliamentary committees of the two governments and aims “to contribute meaningfully to the development of Namibia”.
NAMPA