Namibia flirts with China on trade, investment

The Namibian presidential delegation to China is seeking partnerships in mining, agriculture and logistics, particularly those that help Namibia develop.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah arrived in China on Sunday with a delegation of six ministers and more than 200 businesspeople.

China was Namibia’s second-largest trading partner last year, with trade reaching N$40 billion.

“The relationship with China is not based on sentiment but on economic reality.

China is one of the world’s largest economies and virtually every major economy engages with it, including many that publicly argue for reducing dependence on China,” presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo told The Namibian yesterday.

A state visit is the highest level of diplomatic engagement, and ministers and businesspeople accompanying the president can use this visit to create opportunities for Namibia, Mbambo said.