Botswana's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Unity Dow, puts emphasis on advancing the trade and economic relations between the South African country and China. Meanwhile, China-Botswana bilateral relations continue to grow with the signing of new Memoranda of Understanding.
At the Botswana-China business forum held in Gaborone - Botswana's capital city, the minister underscores China's vital role in helping the nation achieve its economic plans.
The forum, which was sanctioned by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), saw the attendance of more than 70 business establishments from the different sectors of the country including agriculture, transportation, energy, and construction. Also present in the gathering were those from the trade and investment agencies and government financial services.
In a statement quoted by the Weekend Post, Dow said that the bilateral relations between the two countries further pave way for more foreign capital inflow to reach Botswana. This doesn't only stimulate the already growing trade and economic status of the country since it can also benefit Chinese entrepreneurs opting to make roots in their market.
"The business community gathered here this morning understands the imperatives of this joint effort, and share in the vision of freeing our people from unemployment and under-development," Dow said.
Cementing this pact was the two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Botswana and China, earlier on July.
The agreement entails plans to strengthen the trade and investment ties between the two concerned states, as this report indicates.
Facilitating the signing were delegates from the CCPIT and representatives of the Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC).
The Chinese ambassador to Botswana, Zhao Yanbo, spoke during the meeting. According to the diplomat, the MoUs offer a unified goal for China and Botswana that could also enrich the economic and trade situation in this part of Africa.
Zhao further encouraged those present to grab the opportunity of investing in China as its market continues to expand.
Botswana, in turn, can offer its rich natural resources like coal and minerals. Coal, in particular, remains the highest in-demand source of energy worldwide. This is despite several initiatives for global industries to shift from conventional sources to alternative ones.
The Chinese ambassador, meanwhile, revealed during the forum that Botswana's head of state, President Mokgweetsi Masisi will be coming over to Beijing for the upcoming China-Africa Cooperation summit this September.
Masisi's China visit will be a historical one since this is the first time for a Botswana president to set foot in the Asian country a decade since the last.
