President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has used her state visit to China to call for a new phase in Namibia-China relations, arguing that while trade between the two countries has grown by more than 150% in five years, the next challenge is to ensure Namibia captures greater value from its natural resources.
Addressing a media conference in Beijing on Thursday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said bilateral trade had expanded from N$15.75 billion in 2020 to a record N$40.64 billion in 2025, representing cumulative growth of 158%. Trade has continued its upward trajectory this year, reaching N$14.79 billion during the first four months of 2026.
The figures underline China’s position as one of Namibia’s most important trading partners and come as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation in mining, agriculture, green energy, technology and infrastructure.
While welcoming China’s recently announced Zero Tariff Policy for African exports, the President cautioned that improved market access alone would not deliver the economic transformation Namibia is seeking.
“However, market access alone is not enough,” she said.
“Namibia needs to strengthen production capacity and enhance value addition in order to take advantage of such opportunity.”
Her remarks signal a shift from simply attracting foreign investment towards ensuring that more processing, manufacturing and industrial activity takes place within Namibia before products are exported.
The President said Namibia was particularly interested in attracting industries that add value to local resources while expanding cooperation in agriculture, energy, technology, infrastructure, skills development, education and cultural exchanges.
She described the relationship with China as a strategic partnership that supports Namibia’s long-term development priorities.
“Our relationship with China is a strategic partnership that offers opportunities in infrastructure development, industrialisation, trade, agriculture, mining, green energy and people-to-people exchanges,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the state visit, which included engagements with provincial leaders and businesses in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu before concluding in Beijing, exposed the Namibian delegation to China’s advances in manufacturing, technology and agriculture.
“When we toured the industrial, technology and agricultural institutions, I was impressed to see the creativity and advancement in the use of technology,” she said.
The visit concluded in Beijing with high-level bilateral meetings and the signing of several memoranda of understanding to expand cooperation between the two countries.
The President also pointed to Namibia’s strategic geographic position, saying the country’s ports and transport corridors place it well to benefit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative by serving as a gateway into southern Africa.
She said Namibia and China should continue working together to promote multilateralism and a more representative international system while strengthening economic cooperation, industrialisation, technological advancement and youth empowerment.
Reflecting on the evolution of bilateral relations since Namibia’s independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the partnership had grown from one rooted in political solidarity during the liberation struggle into one increasingly focused on economic transformation.
She expressed appreciation for China’s support to Namibia over the years, saying the friendship had been built on mutual respect and shared aspirations for development.
“The support by China during our liberation struggle remains deeply appreciated by the people of Namibia. As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Looking ahead, she said the future of China-Africa relations should be driven by deeper industrial cooperation rather than trade alone.
“The next chapter of China-Africa relations should be characterised by deep economic cooperation, industrialisation, technological advancement, youth empowerment and greater people-to-people exchange,” she said.
She also challenged both Namibian and Chinese media to tell the story of the relationship from their own perspective.
“I urge the Namibian and Chinese media to continue telling our own stories from our own perspective because, as the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together.”
