Strengthening Ties: China and Namibia’s Collaborative Growth Through Medicine and Development
The partnership between China and Namibia has deepened through healthcare initiatives, with Chinese medical teams providing treatment and training since 1996. As diplomatic relations reach 35 years, economic cooperation, infrastructure projects, and educational support exemplify the strong ties. This collaboration serves as a model for enhanced China-Africa relations, tailored to meet specific developmental needs.
The enduring partnership between Namibia and China is demonstrated through medical initiatives, particularly with China’s medical teams in Namibia. Since 1996, China has dispatched teams of doctors and nurses to provide acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments at Katutura State Hospital. Recently, the 15th medical team, led by practitioner Li Bangwei, treated over 19,000 patients and trained nearly 60 local medical students.
Namibia’s former health minister, Bernard Haufiku, has benefited from TCM, advocating for local students to further their studies in China. As both nations prepare to celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations, envoy Elia George Kaiyamo remarked on the cooperation in various sectors advancing mutual progress. Furthermore, China’s role as Namibia’s second-largest trading partner underscores the economic collaboration, with a reported trade volume of $1.4 billion as of September 2024, reflecting a 35 percent increase year-on-year.
The Belt and Road Initiative has spurred significant infrastructure advances in Namibia, highlighted by major projects such as the enhancement of Walvis Bay Harbor. Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Africa, commencing in Namibia, reaffirmed China’s commitment to bolstering economic growth and resource transformation.
As Namibia’s first female president-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is set to take office, Chinese representation will be notable at the inauguration ceremony. Ambassador Zhao Weiping remarked on the significance of future cooperation amidst Namibia’s potential for oil and gas production alongside established partnerships in mining and renewable energy.
Beyond industrial engagements, the bilateral relationship extends into agriculture and education. A South-South Cooperation project recently trained Namibian farmers in sustainable horticulture practices, enhancing local agricultural productivity. Moreover, with a pressing need for educational facilities, China has assisted in constructing schools to facilitate Namibia’s educational infrastructure.
Analysts believe the Namibia-China relationship serves as a model for broader China-Africa collaboration, with tailored cooperative strategies based on individual country needs. Kaiyamo praised recent partnerships initiated at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, emphasizing shared goals in water access, connectivity, education, and agricultural productivity as essential elements of continued collaboration.
The partnership between China and Namibia illustrates a multifaceted collaboration, evidenced through medical, economic, agricultural, and educational sectors. Significant achievements include extensive medical treatments and training from Chinese doctors, bolstering Namibia’s infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhancing cooperation in various areas essential for sustainable growth. As both nations navigate their future, their partnership serves as an exemplary model of international cooperation, meeting the development needs of Namibia while contributing to China’s broader engagement in Africa.
Original Source: www.shine.cn
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