Zhao Weiping, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Namibia

July 3, 2024

Chairman Mao Zedong High School, Windhoek

Honorable Minister Anna Nghipondoka,

Honorable Minister Utoni Nujoma,

Honorable Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua,

Your Excellency Ambassador Elia Kaiyamo,

Principal E. N. Kanyanda,

Deputy Director Luo Xiao,

Representatives of the teachers and students,

Distinguished Guests and Media Friends,

Good morning.

On this gracious occasion of the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Chairman Mao Zedong which is co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Namibia and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture of Namibia at this beautiful high school, I wish to extend my sincere thanks and warmest welcome to Hon. Minister Nghipondoka, Hon. Minister Nujoma, Hon. Governor Laura and all the distinguished guests for joining us at this important event.

It was at the great initiative of Ambassador Kaiyamo that this bronze statue was created specially for the Chairman Mao Zedong High School by Mr. Yuan Xikun, a famous Chinese artist in 2023, which was officially set up here in May this year by the Chinese Embassy with the strong support of the Namibian Government, Khomas Regional Council, Chairman Mao Zedong High School as well as Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd. and Ecological Geology Brigade of JiangXi Geological Bureau.

Chairman Mao was the main founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Republic of China. He was a great man who led the Chinese people to change their destiny and the nation as a whole, and a great internationalist who made significant contributions to the liberation of oppressed nations and the cause of human progress worldwide. Chairman Mao belongs to China as well as the world. He not only won the love of the Chinese people, but also got high respect across the world. Although he has passed on for nearly half a century, we will remember him forever.

Chairman Mao had deep attachment with the African people, always considered African countries and people as the most trustworthy and sincere friends, and firmly supported the African people in their struggle for national independence. He told African friends, I quote, "the entire Chinese people support you", "we are friends and we stand on the same front" and "we have an obligation to support you", unquote. It was under Chairman Mao's personal guidance, the Chinese Government has provided full political, economic, military and moral support for African people's national liberation and construction.

The profound friendship between China and Namibia dates back to the 1960s, and Namibia's Founding President Sam Nujoma met with Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and other Chinese older generation revolutionaries during his visits to China on several occasions. President Nujoma once said, I quote, "the Communist Party of China led the successful revolution and established New China, which was a great inspiration to the Namibian people. In our national struggle for liberation, China has given us great political, diplomatic and other support", unquote. When I had the honor of visiting President Nujoma in February last year shortly after I was posted in Namibia, he spoke of Chairman Mao with kind sentiments. He said, I quote, "Chairman Mao's thoughts on guerrilla warfare have helped us a lot", unquote.

In my capacity as the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to Namibian Government and leaders for their strong support of today’s event and particularly to Hon. Minister Nghipondoka for unveiling the statue in person. This is the first statue of Chairman Mao in Africa, and equally significant, it stands on one of the few high schools in the world named after Chairman Mao. I believe that, for every Chinese who learns this, they will feel a sense of special closeness with this school, with Khomas Region, and with Namibia as a whole. This statue will surely become an eternal symbol of China-Namibia friendship.

I also wish to say a few words to the learners of this school who are present. Chairman Mao was first and foremost a great learner himself. He spent almost all his free time on reading books. He was so knowledgeable. He was a great thinker, a great writer and also a great poet. Now he is with you. I hope you will follow his example and become great learners yourselves.

Finally, I would like to thank all the distinguished guests again for your attendance and I wish this event a complete success.