03 Sep 2021

Botswana and China have marked another milestone in their bilateral relations by signing an extradition treaty.

Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi noted that the two countries’ bilateral relations spanned over 50 years. 

They were cooperating in sectors such as sport, health, science, education, technology, defence and security, he said.

With respect to defence and security, Mr Mmusi said Botswana had benefitted in terms of equipment and material as well as assistance in various platforms, particularly the crime detection related kind such as the safer city project. 

He said justice and law enforcement were other key sectors in which the duo collaborated.

“In recognition of our strategic relationship, there is no doubt that it is essential to cooperate in legal and criminal matters to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship that will in turn secure a conducive trade environment,” he said.

He stated that China was a strategic development and trading partner to Botswana 

Mr Mmusi explained that the treaty set out a framework for repatriation of fugitives and enabled parties to extradite wanted persons for prosecution to the place where the offence was committed.

“This treaty will therefore be an important tool for our law enforcement agencies to collaborate in the prosecution of crime to ensure peace and security for the betterment of our two countries,” he said.

Mr Mmusi said it outlined extraditable offences and  procedures to be followed to facilitate cooperation between law enforcement networks.

The treaty, he said, was also a testimony of the two countries’ determination to fight corruption and protect their good governance credentials and reputation as champions of sustainable socio-economic development for the benefit of their citizens.

Chinese ambassador, Mr Wang Xuefeng said the treaty would serve as a tool to fight corruption, money laundering as well as organised and transnational crimes in order to ensure the stability of both nations.

Mr Wang said China attached great importance to law based governance and the rule of law.

“China has been continuously pushing for legislation in scientific ways with strict law enforcement, judicial justice and complete law compliance,” he said.

The ambassador said the treaty presented yet another opportunity for his office to forge ties and enhance cooperation with the defence ministry.

It would also safeguard people to people exchanges, he said. ends