27 Aug 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi leave for Beijing, China at the invitation of his counterpart, Mr Xi Jinping.

According to a Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation press release, the visit will be in two parts.

Part one, from August 31 to September 2, will be a state visit during which President Masisi will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart on various issues of mutual interest with a view to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

As part of the state visit, President Masisi is scheduled to officiate the Botswana-China Business Forum on August 31, which is co-hosted by Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) in partnership with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). The release says September 3-4, the President will attend the 3rd summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be held under the theme: “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation.”

China and African countries are expected to further align the summit’s theme with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of individual African countries.

President Masisi will be accompanied by the Ministers of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Unity Dow; Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi; Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila; Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale; Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo; as well as senior government officials.

The president and his entourage are expected back home on September 7. ENDS