China and Botswana mark golden jubilee of diplomatic ties

China and Botswana celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on Thursday with a grand reception in the country's capital city Gaborone, reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening cooperation under their newly elevated strategic partnership.

The event, co-hosted by the Chinese embassy in Botswana and Botswana's Ministry of International Relations, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, traditional leaders, and business representatives.

In his remarks, Phenyo Butale, Botswana's minister of international relations, described the golden jubilee as "a remarkable journey built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to cooperation."

He praised China's contributions to Botswana's development in sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure, citing schools built with Chinese grants and medical teams dispatched from Fujian province as "tangible gestures that have touched the lives of our citizens."

"Several primary schools built with Chinese grant funding continue to benefit our young learners in Kazungula, Maun, Serowe, and Mmopane," he noted.

Fan Yong, Chinese ambassador to Botswana, emphasized that over the past five decades, the two countries had grown into "good friends who treat each other as equals and good partners who advance hand in hand." Quoting a Chinese proverb, he said: "Towering trees have deep roots, rolling rivers have abundant sources. The strength of China-Botswana friendship is rooted in our unity, mutual trust, and shared values."

He emphasized the remarkable growth in trade, from less than $500,000 in the 1980s to over $1 billion in 2024, as well as Botswana's 2021 decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative, which he stated had "given wings to mutually beneficial cooperation."

Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and a fairer global order. Butale said Botswana looks forward to drawing from China's development experience as it pursues its economic transformation agenda, while Fan called on both nations to stand together as important members of the Global South to promote equity, justice, and true multilateralism.

The two sides also pledged closer cooperation in implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit. Butale said the Ten Partnership Actions "provide a solid framework for deepening cooperation in areas central to Botswana's priorities," while Fan reiterated the importance of expanding collaboration in fields such as renewable energy, agriculture, minerals, health, and tourism.

"China is ready to continue walking hand in hand with Botswana on the path to modernization, enriching the substance of our strategic partnership, and building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era," he said.