On 6th March 2020, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana H.E. Dr. Zhao Yanbo met with Hon. Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Health and Wellness of Botswana, and briefed Dr. Kwape on the latest updates of China’s prevention and control of COVID-19. The two sides also exchanged views on further epidemic prevention and control cooperation after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in South Africa.

Ambassador Zhao said that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, the Chinese people are solidly united as one to fight against the epidemic of COVID-19 and the prevention and control work has achieved significant progress. The number of confirmed cases in Wuhan and Hubei have been sharply declining, and the cure rates in other provinces have been increasing in the recent days. The Chinese enterprises have been resuming work and production in an orderly manner, and the daily life of Chinese people has been recovering smoothly. The Chinese side pays high attention on the spread of epidemic in Africa, and is willing to work together with the Botswana side to prevent and control the epidemic.

Dr. Kwape thanked Ambassador Zhao for sharing the updates, appreciated China for its effective work on fight against the epidemic, and said that the epidemic of COVID-19 is the challenge for both China and Botswana. Botswana is facing severe situation on epidemic prevention particularly after the first confirmed case appeared in South Africa. The Botswana side hopes to cooperate with the Chinese side to prevent the epidemic from flowing into Botswana.

Mr. Solomon Sekwakwa, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Morrison Sinvula, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Mr. Yang Xunlei, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy also attended the meeting.