Bots sets out on Belt & Road
Bright Mpepe
Botswana and China have signed an MoU on Co-operation in the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s sweeping global vision to create mutually beneficial trade ties, while boosting sustainable growth and infrastructure development with its international partners.
Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Co-operation Dr Lemogang Kwape this week signed the MoU with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Mr Wang Yi.
The signing took place after President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Minister Wang engaged in talks on advancing bilateral ties.
“We are willing to join Botswana to further implement consensus between the two heads of state, achievements of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) and the extraordinary China-Africa Summit on solidarity against COVID 19,” said Minister Wang.
He said China was ready to deepen co-operation with African countries within the framework of FOCAC, to upgrade China-Africa Co-operation, and to partner African countries in turning their resource advantages into development advantages while accelerating continental capacities for independent development.
President Masisi hailed the Chinese government for its assistance to Botswana, and expressed his optimism that more good things would come out their bilateral interactions.
President Masisi said, “China is welcome to increase investment in Botswana, strengthen cooperation in industrial parks, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, and help Botswana contribute ‘patents of Botswana’ to the world. Botswana is willing to be a reliable partner of mutual benefit with China.
“Botswana is ready to strengthen party to party exchanges with China, expand cooperation under the framework of the FOCAC and work with China to overcome the ‘middle income trap’ and achieve high quality development.”
