China-Namibia to further cement ties

Chinese ambassador to Namibia Xin Shunkang says that ties between his country and the Land of the Brave will continue to be strengthened this year. Currently there are 34 Chinese State-owned companies operating in Namibia that employ over 4 000 people. During a media conference held at the Chinese embassy late last week, Shunkang said China has actively participated in the construction of schools, roads and hospitals in Namibia. Trade between the two countries amounted to US$650 million (N$6.9 billion) between 2012 and 2013, he said. In April last year, according to Shunkang, the two governments signed several agreements dealing with the import and export of clothing, fishmeal, animal feed, beef, electronic equipment and machinery. “We are so happy that there are so many high levels of exchanges between our countries. There is also a further deepening in the current political cooperation we share,” said Shunkang. In terms of human resource exchanges, Shunkang said China will continue training 100 Namibians in agriculture, healthcare, education, computer science and public administration through the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC). Through FOCAC, China built the Kavango and Omusati regional council offices at Rundu and Outapi respectively, as well as several other construction projects. “These training opportunities is further complimented by the setting up of the Sam Nujoma Scholarship at the University of Namibia (Unam), with a donation of N$500 000 to sponsor local students to study in China, while the Loving Heart Organisation has since 2010 sponsored 29 students to study a six-year medicine programme,” Shunkang said. He added that China has pledged to continue availing scholarships to Namibia through the Ministry of Education, to pursue degrees and master programmes in economics and marine science. “Through this agreement, China set up the Confucius Institute with Unam to promote its language and culture,” he added.