On 18th May, 2021, H.E. Wang Xuefeng, the Chinese Ambassador to Botswana paid a courtesy call on Hon. Eric Molale, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and exchanged in-depth views on the bilateral friendly cooperation.

Ambassador Wang emphasized that China attaches great importance to the traditional friendship with Botswana. When H.E. President Mokgweetsi Masisi paid the successful state visit to China and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2018, the two Heads of State reached extensive consensus, which pointed the way for the development of our bilateral relations. In earlier this year, the two countries signed the cooperative agreement on Belt and Road Initiative, providing a new impetus for the development of bilateral relationship. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the friendship of our two peoples has been further consolidated and strengthened in the fight against the pandemic through mutual support and assistance. On the occasion of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China this year, China has won a complete victory in the fight against poverty and realized the historic achievement of eradicating absolute poverty. China is willing to share the governance experience with Botswana, including poverty eradication, and deepen bilateral practical cooperation in various fields to benefit the two peoples.

Minister Molale welcomed Ambassador Wang to his new post in Botswana. He thanked China for the long-term support for the economic and social development of Botswana, and particularly the valuable assistance to Botswana in the fight against the pandemic and economic recovery. He emphasized the need of strengthening the bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of agriculture, energy and infrastructure so as to promote rural economic and social development and eliminate poverty at an early date in Botswana.