Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia Selma Ashipala-Musavyi paid an official visit to China between April 11-18.
On April 17, she met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Wang Yi stated that the traditional friendship between the two parties [the Communist Party of China and the South West Africa People’s Organisation {SWAPO} of Namibia] and two countries is deeply rooted and has withstood the test of global changes. China and Namibia have stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight for independence and freedom and joined hand in hand for development and prosperity. Amid profound changes unseen in a century, it is even more important to strengthen unity and cooperation to uphold international fairness and justice. Expanding and deepening China-Namibia cooperation is in the interest of the two peoples, aligns with the development trend of China-Africa relations, and reflects the efforts of the Global South in strengthening solidarity.
China, he added, has been a reliable partner that Africa has always been able to count on throughout history, and China’s diplomacy stands firmly with developing countries and with African partners. China is ready to work with Africa in a spirit of mutual trust and support, jointly pursue common development, prosperity and modernisation, strengthen the Global South, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, development, and international fairness and justice.
Selma Ashipala-Musavyi stated that Namibia and China are traditional partners and sincere friends, and their comprehensive strategic partnership is built on the foundation of mutual support and mutual benefit. She appreciated China’s long-standing and invaluable support to Namibia and other African countries, stating that without China, there would be no such development achievements in Africa today.
The two foreign ministers issued a joint press statement in which both sides reiterated their strong commitment to multilateralism, particularly in promoting international cooperation and strengthening global governance. They emphasised that global challenges should be addressed collectively through inclusive dialogue rather than unilaterally.
They agreed to continue to expand mutually beneficial cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including new energy, oil and gas, mineral, agriculture, science and technology, education, tourism, infrastructure, and human resources.
Namibia underscored the importance of such cooperation in enhancing the added value of natural resources, including critical minerals such as uranium. This is to be achieved by promoting processing, conversion and related downstream cooperation, thereby extending the value chain for local benefits. All these efforts are aimed at promoting industrialisation, strengthening local processing capacity, creating employment, and increasing Namibia’s integration into the global industrial chains, particularly in key sectors such as green hydrogen, oil and gas, mining, and tourism.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Wang Yi Holds Talks with Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia Selma Ashipala-Musavyi
April 17 (MFA) – On April 17, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia Selma Ashipala-Musavyi in Beijing.
Wang Yi stated that the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries is deeply rooted and has withstood the test of global changes. China and Namibia have stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight for independence and freedom, and joined hand in hand for development and prosperity. Amid profound changes unseen in a century, it is even more important to strengthen unity and cooperation to uphold international fairness and justice. Expanding and deepening China-Namibia cooperation is in the interest of the two peoples, aligns with the development trend of China-Africa relations, and reflects the efforts of the Global South in strengthening solidarity. China is willing to work with Namibia to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, enhance high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Namibia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Wang Yi stated that China appreciates Namibia’s adherence to the one-China principle and firmly supports Namibia in independently pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. China is willing to synergize development strategies with Namibia to fully leverage the benefits of China’s tariff exemption policy and to advance cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, people’s livelihoods and youth development, safeguarding the overall situation of bilateral friendly cooperation. China has been a reliable partner that Africa has always been able to count on throughout history, and China’s diplomacy stands firmly with developing countries and with African partners. China is ready to work with Africa in a spirit of mutual trust and support, jointly pursue common development, prosperity and modernization, strengthen the Global South, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, development, and international fairness and justice.
Selma Ashipala-Musavyi stated that Namibia and China are traditional partners and sincere friends, and their comprehensive strategic partnership is built on the foundation of mutual support and mutual benefit. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi appreciates China’s long-standing and invaluable support to Namibia and other African countries, stating that without China, there would be no such development achievements in Africa today. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, Namibia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is unwavering in advancing friendly cooperation with China. Namibia looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges and expanding cooperation in all fields to bring the bilateral relationship to a new level. Namibia also highly commends China as an important source of stability in a turbulent world, supports the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China to jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on current international and regional issues of common concern.
Joint Press Statement Between Foreign Ministers of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Namibia
April 17 (MFA) – At the Invitation of H.E. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade of the Republic of Namibia, undertook an official visit to China from April 11 to 18, 2026. The two Foreign Ministers held in-depth and cordial talks on China-Namibia relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest and reached important consensus.
Both sides reiterated their strong commitment to multilateralism, particularly in promoting international cooperation and strengthening global governance. They emphasized that global challenges should be addressed collectively through inclusive dialogue rather than unilaterally. They pledged to deepen collaboration on areas of interest at multilateral platforms, to amplify the voice and influence of developing countries in global decision-making, and promote south-south cooperation.
Namibia supports the series of major initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping and stands ready to work with China to implement them and build a community with a shared future for humanity. Both sides expressed their readiness to continuously cooperate on international affairs and defend the common interests of the Global South. China commends Namibia’s efforts in upholding multilateralism, calling for international fairness and justice, safeguarding international law and free trade system, and promoting the process of Africa’s continental integration.
Both sides recalled the profound traditional friendship between China and Namibia, spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations, and noted with satisfaction the continued progress of bilateral and practical cooperation. Both sides stressed that China and Namibia should keep a long-term perspective to continuously elevate bilateral relations, and jointly elevate China-Namibia Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to new heights.
Namibia reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the one-China principle and the authority of UNGA Resolution 2758. Namibia further reaffirmed that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and therefore opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” and supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.
Both sides reaffirmed their opposition to any attempt to politicize internal affairs as human rights issues and to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, further deepen political mutual trust, advance the implementation of the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, create greater synergy between their development strategies, emphasize the importance of China-Namibia practical cooperation from a political and strategic perspective, continue to expand mutually beneficial cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including new energy, oil and gas, mineral, agriculture, science and technology, education, tourism, infrastructure, and human resources.
Namibia underscored the importance of such cooperation in enhancing the added value of natural resources, including critical minerals such as uranium. This is to be achieved by promoting processing, conversion and related downstream cooperation, thereby extending the value chain for local benefits. All these efforts are aimed at promoting industrialization, strengthening local processing capacity, creating employment, and increasing Namibia’s integration into the global industrial chains, particularly in key sectors such as green hydrogen, oil and gas, mining, and tourism.
China firmly supports Namibia’s economic and social development aimed at propelling industrialization and agricultural modernization, and stands ready to do its best to provide assistance to Namibia for its implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan and realization of Vision 2030. Namibia values the opportunities brought by China’s economic development, and appreciates China’s announcement of implementing zero tariff measures. Namibia will continue to regard China as a strategic economic partner, welcome Chinese companies to invest and operate in Namibia, and work with China to promote the smooth development of major economic cooperation projects.
Both sides committed to leveraging the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges to promote cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges and friendship among the youth.
