24 Sep 2015

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Eric Molale, has commended the first generation of the Chinese leaders who laid the basic but formidable foundations for a bustling economy that it is today.

Speaking at the 66^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on September 23, Mr Molale who is also the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, said no one would have ever imagined that China would make it on its own with a predominantly agrarian economy.

He said despite the many challenges, he noted with satisfaction that the successive Chinese leaders were not deterred to forge ahead in building the political and economic structures and systems crucial for a successful economy, hence it was not surprising that today China was the second biggest economy in the world.

Mr Molale said Botswana and China’s friendship dated back to 1975, when the two countries established diplomatic relations and said these bonds of friendship have been developing soundly and steadily on the principle of mutual respect and treating each other as equals, as well as promoting common development.

He said peoples of the two countries have truly benefited from expanding exchanges and cooperation in various fields, adding that the two countries early this year celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations stating that “forty is a significant number as it is associated with maturity.”

The minister said the forty years of friendship have been exemplified by high level exchanges, infrastructure development by Chinese companies in Botswana and continuous development assistance.

Mr Molale said Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi paid an official visit to China in June at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart and the visit was a resounding success as they discussed an array of bilateral issues of mutual concern.

He said one of the critical outcomes of the visit was the government of China’s decision to extend a grant amounting to P16 million to Botswana for use in anti-poaching activities.

The gesture, he said is welcome gesture as the assistance would go a long way in assisting Botswana to fight the endemic problem of poaching which threatens the extinction of the country’s wildlife resource.

Mr Molale said the Chinese government also continues to contribute immensely to Botswana’s health sector as demonstrated by the cataract operations which were carried out by the Chinese medical team in June this year, resulting in over 500 patients regaining their sight. 

In addition, the Chinese government recently donated about P9 million worth of medical equipment, drugs, consumables and devices.

He said this year, 93 Batswana were awarded scholarships ranging from undergraduate to doctorate level to study in Chinese institutions of higher learning. 

He said, “This is a mark of goodwill and friendship on the part of the Chinese government for which Batswana are greatful.”

Mr Molale commended the Chinese community and the Chinese Embassy in Botswana who continue to avail charitable donations to the needy of this country as well as supporting community development projects.

For his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Zheng Zhuqiang said 2015 has been another extraordinary year for China and its people, as the government has doubled its efforts to implement comprehensive and in-depth reforms in almost all areas so as to maintain a medium-high growth rate and move toward medium-high level of development, and achieve the balanced and inclusive development.

The Ambassador noted that China’s steady economic development has benefited and would continue to benefit the world as it contributed about 30 per cent to global growth in the first half of this year.

He said China would adopt a more proactive import policy and place greater emphasis on the quality of imports and exports. “It is estimated that by the year 2022, China will be the largest importer of the world,” he said.  Ends