Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to pay a state visit to Namibia on February 5-6, which is expected to further promote the bilateral ties of the two countries.

 

During the visit, the Chinese president will meet with his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Pohamba and Namibia's former president Sam Nujoma.

 

Namibia has always been an all-weather friend to China. Nujoma, currently the president of the ruling SWAPO-PARTY (South West African People's Organization) and also the first president of Namibia, has visited China 13 times. Pohamba visited China and met with President Hu during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last November.

 

Since China and Namibia established diplomatic ties in 1990, bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have developed in numerous areas, including politics, economy, education and health.

 

China had offered great help to Namibia during its struggle for liberation before independence, while over the years, the Namibian government has consistently adhered to the one-China policy.

 

To accelerate Namibia's economic and social development and further promote bilateral trade and economic ties, China has provided assistance without any political preconditions to Namibiaby constructing child centers, low-cost apartments, etc.

 

Two-way trade has developed very fast in recent years with the volume reaching US$240 million during the first 11 months of 2006. It is expected to reach US$280 million for the full year.

 

Meanwhile, an increasing number of Chinese enterprises are entering the markets of the southern African country, contributing to local economic development and helping to improve living standards.

 

The two countries have maintained good cooperation in health and education. The Chinese government has sent medical teams and teachers to work in Namibia. It has also annually provided training courses and scholarships to Namibians to study in China.

 

Liang Yinzhu, the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, recently told Xinhua News Agency that Sino-Namibian relations are expected to enter a new stage with a wider scale, higher level and broader areas under the spirit of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2007)