02 Sep 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi says he admires China’s President Xi Jingping’s vision of a community with common future for mankind.

“I find President Xi’s model attractive and beneficial to Botswana’s development.”

President Masisi was speaking in an interview after holding bilateral talks with President Xi, saying since his interactions with President Xi from way back, he had always admired his policies and interactions with African countries that are non-intrusive and without conditions.

President Masisi said Botswana as a middle income country was striving to seek high income status, hence the need to focus more on trade.

Therefore, he said there was need to broaden, strengthen and cement bilateral ties with China for lucrative investment opportunities that would attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

The President said he informed President Xi that he was hopeful that Botswana under the auspice of Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was destined for beaming economic prospects.

President Masisi said Botswana’s proposed FOCAC deals included infrastructure projects such as roads and rail, strategic to connecting all neighbours for the facilitation of trade.

 “I call on the Chinese investors to come over to develop, design and build such projects,” he said.

He further noted that China as an emerging super power and largest economy in the world provided solace to many African countries including Botswana.

The President also expected that the business forum, scheduled for  the end of his state visit, would provide platforms for interaction between Batswana and the Chinese companies to dialogue on investment opportunities.

In this regard, he was hopeful that Batswana would seize the opportunities as cemented by his meeting with President Xi.

Asked as to what he thinks of China’s development projects indebting African countries and alleged neo-colonialism, he said Botswana was smart enough to choose friends with deliberateness and focus.

He said China being the second largest economy in the world continued to be a significant player in the South to South Cooperation, a framework for collaboration among developing countries premised on exchange of technology.

Subsequent to his meeting with President Xi, four MoUs were signed by the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow.

The said the MoUs include Human Resources Cooperation between Directorate of Public Service Management and International Development Cooperation Agency of China.

The agreement is intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation in human resource development.

The other MoU is on Mutual Visa Exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports between China and Botswana and vice versa.

Other signed memoranda are on Economic Trade, Investment and Technical Cooperation intended to strengthen and consolidate bilateral economy, trade, investment, infrastructure and capacity building, among others.

There is also the MoU on Economic and Technical Cooperation between China and Botswana under which China has provided Botswana with some funds to be used on agreed infrastructure projects after further consultation.

President Masisi’s three-day state visit ended yesterday. He will then attend the FOCAC Summit today and tomorrow  before proceeding to Hong Kong and Seychelles for further dialogue with potential investors.

President Masisi is accompanied by Dr  Dow,  Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Mr Shaw Kgathi, Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Kitso Mokaila, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Mr Eric Molale, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Bogolo Kenewendo and some senior government officials.

The President and his entourage are expected to return home on Saturday. ENDS