31 Jan 2017

Batswana have been urged to rise and capitalise on the good friendship that Botswana and China have enjoyed over many years to better their lives.

In his remarks at the 2017 Chinese Spring Festival reception recently, Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson, Kgosi Puso Gaborone implored both Batswana and the Chinese to be hard workers in all their endeavors.

“Out of hard work, China has become a super power. Similarly out of hard work, Botswana has become a self-sustaining and rapid developing democratic country,” he said.   

With the coming 2017 Chinese Lunar New Year, which started on January 28, 2017, also known as Year of the Rooster, Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson said the Spring

Festival marked yet another milestone in Botswana/China relation, which dates back in many years.

In the Chinese culture, the Rooster means an image of an early riser that works hard and energetically.

“In Setswana, we coincidentally have a saying about the Rooster which says, “An early bird catches the fattest worm”. I urge Batswana to be the early birds, to catch the fattest worm of our relationship with the Chinese,” he added.

As Botswana and China enjoy cordial relations in areas of; health, culture, sports, education and trade, Kgosi Puso said the relational impact of China was not only enjoyed at national level, as over the years Ntlo ya Dikgosi had also enjoyed a cordial relationship with China.   

“As the Chairperson of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, the Chinese Embassy in Botswana has honored me in a lot of ways. I do not remember any Chinese celebration I have not attended,” he said.

Additionally, as a House, he said Ntlo ya Dikgosi had also benefited from the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) through a Memorandum of Agreement that had been signed between Ntlo ya Dikgosi and the association.

Subsequent to the signing of this agreement, he said members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi had benefitted from several cultural exchange programmes, which included numerous visits to China through invitations by CAFIU ‘which has benefited the House in terms of cultural exchange and promotion of people to people cooperation.’  

He expressed gratitude that the Chinese government would convene its 19th National Convention whereby it would renew its commitment to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as well as its readiness to work with Botswana.

Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson also urged Batswana and the Chinese to embrace the spirit of loyalty, faithfulness, devotion, trustworthiness, dependability, devotion and conformity, which he said were “the attributes of fidelity in their daily personal, family and national duties so as to maximise on the ideals of this Chinese year, to make a difference.”

In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Dr Zhao Yanbo, said as the Rooster also signaled propitious good luck and new hope it was his sincere hope that the relations of Botswana and China would be ushered in a new stage with the support and assistance from all ‘our hard working friends in the Year of Rooster.’

To maintain a sustainable high-growth economy, in 2017, and contribute more to the world economy, he said China would continue to spare no effects to press ahead with its own economic restructuring.

The Chinese Ambassador said during the Year of Rooster, his embassy would also work closely with Botswana government to further enhance the two nations’ mutual political trust and actively explore cooperation potentials.

Spring Festival, he said was the most important and most celebrated traditional festival in China. At this time, Dr Yanbo said “wherever they are, people return home to have family reunions, to show filial respect to their elders, to visit their relatives and to start wishing for a prosperous new year.”

With China fully integrated into a globalised world, he said Spring Festival had become a global festival, adding that more and more countries designated it as public holiday, as the celebration played a very effective role in promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese people and other local people.

The reception was also graced by Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu and Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo. BOPA