NATIONAL ASSEMBLY — In an interview with Xinhua, Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of Namibia’s National Assembly, expressed optimism about the future of Namibia-China relations, predicting continued growth and strengthening ties between the two nations.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the relationship between Namibia and China is built on a longstanding, mutual understanding and cooperation that dates back to before Namibia’s independence. “Today we have an exceptional, good, cordial relationship. We partner in many respects. We fully understand each other,” said Katjavivi. He emphasized that enhancing this bilateral relationship remains a key ambition for both countries. “I am absolutely confident that this is what we want to see happening between our two countries,” he added.

Katjavivi also discussed the upcoming 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which he believes will further solidify the cooperative dynamic between China and the African continent. “It would be a great opportunity to benefit from each other,” he remarked.

During the interview, Katjavivi shared a memorable experience from his early involvement in international diplomacy. He recalled being present at the United Nations on October 25, 1971, when China was re-admitted to the organization, a moment he described as a dramatic and historic event supported by many countries from Africa and Asia. “It was a dramatic moment in history,” he noted, reflecting on the solidarity shown by what is today referred to as the Global South.

In August, Katjavivi participated in an interregional seminar in China on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), co-hosted by China’s National People’s Congress and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. His visit included trips to Beijing, Shanxi Province, and Tianjin, where he observed and admired the transformation and development achieved by China over the decades.

Katjavivi expressed a desire to implement some of China’s successful strategies in Namibia, particularly in agricultural modernization and vocational training. After visiting agricultural and vocational training facilities in China, he drafted a proposal for establishing a faculty or department at the Namibian University of Science and Technology to train vocational instructors, hoping to replicate China’s developmental successes in Namibia.

Reflecting on his experiences and the insights gained, Katjavivi said, “There is a great deal of lessons to be learned from the Chinese experience. I’m going back to Namibia … with wonderful ideas that I would like to take up with my colleagues at the government, university, and parliament levels, to see how we can implement some of these wonderful ideas.”