Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba in Beijing on Thursday.
Mbumba is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which runs from Wednesday to Friday.
At the meeting, Xi expressed appreciation for Mbumba's positive contribution to the success of this year's FOCAC summit, adding that the summit has demonstrated the strong determination of China and Africa to jointly push forward modernization.
China is willing to work with Namibia and other African countries to comprehensively implement the outcomes of the summit, promote common development and prosperity, and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi said.
Xi stressed that the Communist Party of China and the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) are both progressive political parties that have been in power for a long time, and that SWAPO has written "building socialism with Namibian characteristics" into its party constitution.
China is willing to work with Namibia to strengthen friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two parties, enhance experience sharing on party and state governance, share development opportunities and jointly advance their respective modernization processes, Xi said, adding that the two sides should strengthen the synergy of their development strategies and create new highlights in cooperation in agriculture, clean energy, infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, science and technology.
China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and set up business in Namibia and hopes that Namibia will continue to provide them with relevant convenience and support, Xi said.
China supports Namibia's role as a co-facilitator of the United Nations' Summit of the Future, and stands ready to strengthen multilateral strategic cooperation with Namibia, further consolidate and strengthen the forces of the Global South, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Mbumba said he was honored to be invited to China to participate in the FOCAC summit, adding that he received a warm and friendly reception rich in Chinese characteristics and traditions.
The declaration on jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era and the action plan of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation for the next three years, which were adopted at the summit earlier Thursday, are conducive to consolidating the brotherly Africa-China friendship and promoting Africa-China cooperation in various fields, Mbumba said, adding that the series of new measures announced by Xi for Africa and China to jointly promote modernization will lead both sides to create a bright future of common development and prosperity, and promote the building of an Africa-China community with a shared future.
Namibia will earnestly and fully implement the outcomes of the summit, maintain close exchanges with China to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, mineral resources, infrastructure, clean energy, aerospace and other fields, said the president.
The Namibian side firmly adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China in safeguarding its territorial integrity, supports China's adherence to its successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and supports the series of global initiatives put forward by President Xi, which will help the world achieve peace and modernization, Mbumba said.
On the sidelines of the FOCAC summit, China and Namibia signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as development cooperation and the export of Namibia mutton and chevon to China.
Xi meets Namibian president on ties
Xi meets Namibian president on ties
The 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) entered its fourth day on Sunday, captivating visitors with groundbreaking technologies, stunning digital art, and notable medical advancements on its first public open day.
Over the past four days, the fair has hosted nearly 200 forums and introduced more than 100 groundbreaking achievements. The public open day saw heightened interest in these technological and artistic advancements.
Highlights included a shield machine used in the world's longest underwater high-speed rail tunnel, showcasing cutting-edge construction technology, and an intelligent unmanned tower crane designed to reduce costs by more than one-third. Additionally, wall-climbing robots for elastic wave inspection were on display.
The high-speed rail exhibit drew significant attention, particularly for its autopilot system capable of precise parking and smooth vehicle control, attracting numerous domestic and international visitors eager to experience it firsthand.
"I have tried the China's high-speed railway train many times. It's comfortable, clean. You can see the scenery while you're traveling. And also today, I have the opportunity to experience the pilot job. So it's very good. I knew that the speed is 350 kilometers per hour. And the very important thing I knew today is autopilot. All the trains are autopilot," said a Danish visitor.
Another highlight was an unmanned aircraft cockpit, operated entirely via a screen with no manual controls, offering a novel low-altitude flight experience. This vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is designed for short-distance transportation, tourism, logistics, and emergency medical services.
The fair's integration of technology and art offered a visual feast, featuring exhibits such as the 'Most Beautiful Great Wall,' displayed in 4K on a large 3D screen, and 'Time Condensation Treasures,' a digital art installation inspired by the Palace Museum’s bronze-gilded water clock. These works were created by Blackbow Creative Design Institution, renowned for its visual effects work at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
"We have always aimed to tell China's story effectively through the fusion of art and technology, showcasing China's originality in digital technology to audience worldwide," said Wang Zhiou, founder of Blackbow Creative Design Institution.
The health sector also showcased notable advancements at the fair. Emergency drills conducted by Peking University People’s Hospital and the Beijing Red Cross Society’s air medical rescue team demonstrated their coordination and rapid response capabilities to representatives from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
"We foster collaboration in emergency medicine and promote the sharing of information. In the event of a public health crisis, we provide mutual support," said Wang Tianbing, vice president of Peking University People's Hospital and deputy director of the National Trauma Medicine Center.
Additionally, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, in collaboration with pharmaceutical research institutions, announced the establishment of a joint laboratory for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and neurorepair technology transfer. This lab will focus on tackling neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, stroke, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
The fair also unveiled the first 'Traditional Chinese Medicine Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) Common Technology Center' in Beijing, established to support pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug development and manufacturing process.
"We have developed a comprehensive, one-stop service that offers research and production technology support to our research entities," said Li Dejuan, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Visitors can continue exploring the major exhibition areas at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park, with free entry available until Monday.
Tech, digital art, and medical advances impress public at CIFTIS
