30 Jan 2018

Permanent Secretary to the President Carter Morupisi says Botswana and China have a long history of growing relations dating as far back as 1975 and have continued to date.

“China provides aid by sponsoring our students to study in China and Botswana is grateful to this relationship and hopeful to see more of this support even in the coming years,” Morupisi said during the Chinese new year celebration gala dinner  recently.

He said the relations between the countries extended to cultural exchange that resulted in the introduction of Chinese language study at the University of Botswana through the Confucius Institute.

Touching on the Chinese New Year, also dubbed the Chinese Spring Festival, Morupisi said 2018 was said to be a year of the dog noting that it sounds like this year would be wonderful.

“Bearing in mind the saying that a dog is a man’s best friend. May the dog year bring all of you peace, joy and success,” he said.

He said while he was grateful to be part of the celebration he was delighted that all the Chinese people have found a home away from home here in Botswana.

“This is what Botswana envisions to be a home of many as we continue to lure investors into our country,” he concluded.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Zhao Yanbo said the Spring Festival had a long history of about 500 years.

“The tradition of celebrating spring festival has been spread across the globe since China’s opening up to the outside world 40 years ago. The celebration has a constant theme to congratulate each other at this time of bidding farewell to the past year and welcoming the New Year,” he said.

Zhao further said his fellow compatriots had done ‘an excellent job’ in living side by side with their Botswana friends in harmonious way. He said China continues to lead the world economic growth by contributing about a third  of world economic growth.

“The year 2017 witnessed China’s GDP at US$13 billion, with a year to year growth rate of 6.9 per cent,” he said, adding that China will continue to promote China-African cooperation with guiding principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity, honesty, affinity and good faith.

“By aligning its development strategy with Botswana, China will deepen its cooperation with Botswana in areas of health and wellness, infrastructure construction, agriculture and tourism. China will host FOCAC summit in Beijing in September 2018, which will afford an extraordinary opportunity for developing China-Botswana relations,” said Zhao.

The night was lit up with various performances of Chinese cultural activities that also saw some Batswana taking part in them to show the cultural relations between the two countries. ENDS