Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba praised China's role in sharing innovations and scientific advancements for the sake of fairer global development, emphasizing that the words of Chinese leadership in this regard are reflected in the country's actions.
Mbumba is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years, with the highest rate of attendance by foreign leaders. The three-day summit, running until Friday, aims to deepen ties and outline future cooperation between China and Africa.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG), Mbumba praised China's impact on global development and prosperity, emphasizing that any discussion on development today must include China.
"If we are to talk about development right now, you can't talk about development without thinking or talking about China. We have to work together, first in the area of peace to create stability in the world, to make sure that science, technology, innovations and general development in the scientific field is shared openly. So if we can do that, then China and Africa will develop concurrently moving forward, and that will bring the real prosperity to the people of the world," he said.
Reflecting on his experience with President Xi Jinping, Mbumba recalled Xi's first visit to Africa in 2013 after he became President of China.
During his speech in Tanzania, President Xi introduced the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith that guide China's Africa policy.
Mbumba noted that Xi's speech was a true representation of his diplomatic philosophy and engagement approach with African countries.
"Very true, very true indeed. Not only true because of what he said, but also true because that's how he practices his foreign policy and his contact to African countries. China is a friend, and a solid friend, a historic friend, and that's how we all benefited from that contact," the Namibian leader noted.
Regarding the 2024 FOCAC, Mbumba emphasized its profound significance, highlighting that the three global initiatives proposed by President Xi, namely, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, offer clear direction for the shared development of humanity.
"This forum is very very important, very unique. It is not just for people to come to talk, and we will continue to push and encourage our people to benefit from it and to gain friends. Initiatives like that, they are worthy of pursuit. They are worthy of respecting and all of us should work together to make humanity at this level of development, all over the world, to live in peace and to be able to live the lives our grandparents, our great great grandparents could not have imagined," he said.
Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990, China and Namibia have developed a steady relationship, upgrading to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2018. Last year, bilateral trade reached 1.31 billion U.S. dollars, reflecting a 16.5 percent year-on-year increase.
Namibian president highlights China’s pursuit of more equal global development
Namibian president highlights China’s pursuit of more equal global development
