On 24th March 2020，Chinese Ambassador to Botswana H.E. Dr. Zhao Yanbo met with Dr. Masupe, Team Leader of Botswana COVID-19 Task Force, and briefed the latest development of China’s fight against COVID-19. The two sides also exchanged views on the further cooperation in battling the epidemic. Mr. Goitsemang, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation and Mr. Yang Xunlei, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Chinese Embassy attended the meeting.

Ambassador Zhao said that with arduous efforts in the last two months, China has brought the epidemic under control. The restrictions on people’s movement in Hubei province are being lifted, and the resumption of work and life is accelerating across China. But the epidemic in Europe and U.S. is posing challenges for us and the world. In order to prevent imported cases of COVID-19 from the outside, China has taken a series of measures for those coming to China, including enhanced quarantine and virus testing as well as treatment. The recent preventive measures taken by Botswana, such as closing border gates and minimizing the flow of people, have achieved good outcome, rendering Botswana the only country with zero confirmed case in southern Africa. China will continue the cooperation with Botswana in the fight against COVID-19, particularly on sharing the experience of preventing the imported cases. China is also providing medical materials assistance to Botswana to support its prevention and control of the epidemic.

Dr. Masupe spoke highly of the achievement of China’s prevention and control of the epidemic and thanked China for supporting Botswana’s fight against COVID-19 through sharing the experiences and providing medical materials assistance. He said that Botswana would learn from China’s experiences, particularly the measures of preventing the imported cases, apply them in its work of fighting against COVID-19 and continue to strengthen the cooperation and exchanges with China.