30 Aug 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi and family have arrived in Beijing, China for his first state visit since becoming President on April 1.

The three-day visit is at the  invitation of China President Xi Jingping.President Masisi, First Lady  Neo Masisi and their daughter Atsile were welcomed by among others China deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Mr  Kong Youxuan and Chinese ambassador to Botswana Dr Zhao Yanbo at Beijing International Airport.

The visit precedes the two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit that the President and a delegation comprising ministers would attend on September 3-4.

President Masisi is expected to hold official talks with his counterpart, President Xi. There will also be an engagement for first ladies on issues relating to HIV/AIDS.

The President and his entourage will be treated to an excursion on September 1-2 at one of China’s landmarks, the Forbidden City - a palace in Central Beijing that served as home to emperors.

They will also tour the Huawei plant, China Railway Construction, Tianjin High Speed Railway and High-Tech and Economic Zone in Tianjin. President Masisi is scheduled to officiate at the Botswana-China Business Forum co-hosted by Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) in partnership with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

President Masisi is accompanied by Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Unity Dow, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Mr Shaw Kgathi, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Mr Eric Molale, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo and other senior government officials.ENDS