China and Namibia signed eight documents, including agreements on cooperation in green minerals and a framework agreement on economic partnership.
China on Friday said it would step up cooperation with Namibia in the Southern African state's energy, farming, infrastructure, and minerals sectors during talks in Beijing between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has been on a seven-day visit to China since Sunday, seeking investment from the world's top lender and second-largest economy to help implement election pledges to create jobs and diversify the Namibian economy.
"In Namibia, we affirm (an) unwavering commitment to this longstanding friendship between Namibia and China," said Nandi-Ndaitwah, noting that her entourage included dozens of business people.
"Your decision to make China your first state visit outside of Africa after assuming the presidency demonstrates the importance you attach to this significant relationship, for which I express my appreciation," Xi said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah took office in 2025, extending the 34-year rule of the South West Africa People's Organisation that led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Economic partnership
China and Namibia signed eight documents, including agreements on cooperation in green minerals and a framework agreement on economic partnership.
"China is willing to deepen cooperation with Namibia in infrastructure construction, energy, minerals, agriculture, education, youth, and science and technology," read a readout of the meeting published by Chinese state agency Xinhua.
"Both sides recognise the strategic value of critical minerals... and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the development of key minerals such as uranium, lithium and rare earths," Xinhua reported citing a China-Namibia joint statement.
The statement emphasised the role of promoting local processing — a theme raised recently by a number of African commodity producers — technological transfer and local skills development.
Resource-rich Namibia could become the continent's fourth-largest oil producer by 2030, after Shell and TotalEnergies discovered an estimated 2.6 billion barrels of crude and announced plans to start producing.
Kenya's economy to grow 4.3% in 2026: World Bank
Kenya's economy is expected to expand 4.3% this year and 4.4% in 2027, the World Bank said on Thursday.
Ebola death toll reaches 600 in DR Congo as UN urges end to fighting
The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
