Your Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia,

Your Honorable Lukas Sinimbo Muha, Chairperson of the National Council,

Dear JNC members, Distinguished guests:

Good morning!

It's indeed my great pleasure and honor to attend the Opening of the 3rd Session of the 3rd Junior National Council. First, let me thank Honorable Chairperson Muha for his kind invitation.

I am particularly honored that Her Excellency Vice President Ndaitwah is also with us today. I was deeply impressed that Her Excellency Vice President has stressed the critical importance of the youth development on many occasions.

As I understand, the JNC is a great platform for Namibian youths to learn about Namibia’s political mechanism and voice their opinions on matters of national and international concern.

The Chinese Embassy is very glad to have sponsored the JNC since last year and we will continue to provide our support every year in future.

The Chinese side has always been keen to contribute its part to Namibia's efforts of advancing youth related programs.

In 2019, Namibia National Youth Training Center was built in Otjozondjupa with the grants provided by the Chinese government.

Since the establishment of our diplomatic relations, China has also funded the construction of 8 schools in Namibia.

Every year, several dozens of Namibian students get Chinese Government scholarships to study in China and more than 300 Namibians go to China undertaking various training programs.

I myself was especially delighted that the Embassy has sponsored the football team of Namibia School Sport Union to participate in the International School Federation Football World Cup 2024 which was held in May this year in China.

I want to tell our JNC members that we are determined to do more to benefit the Namibian young people.

I just came back to Windhoek from China yesterday after accompanying H.E. President Mbumba to attend the 2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.  

At the summit, Chinese President Xi announced ten partnership actions that China will take with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years, covering the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.

Especially, in the partnership for people-to-people exchanges, President Xi declared that China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa – Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, and provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths.

During the summit, President Xi and President Mbumba also held a very successful bilateral meeting, having reached important consensus on pushing forward China-Namibia Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

Greatly encouraged by the great success of the FOCAC summit and the bilateral meeting between our two Presidents, I am very excited at the promising prospect of China-Namibia relations.

I strongly believe that China-Namibia relations are a perfect combination of traditional friendship, common interests and growth potential.

I have told my friends both here in Namibia and back in China either publicly or privately that Namibia has great potential of economic growth.

Despite a small population of 3 million, Namibia ranks as the 34th largest country in the world in terms of land size. It's a country with long-term political stability, a sound legal system and a strong determination for national development. As Namibia is on the way to becoming the fourth largest oil producer in Africa, it is destined for an economic takeoff in the foreseeable future.

As good friends and close development partners, our two countries will continue to uphold the banner of south-south cooperation, and deepen practical cooperation in extensive areas which I believe will certainly bring more benefits to our two peoples, including the youths of both countries.

I encourage our JNC members to learn more about China and China-Namibia friendship and cooperation. I also hope that in future you will have the opportunity to visit or study in China. We in the Chinese Embassy wish to have more engagement with Namibian young friends.

In conclusion, I congratulate the success of this conference and even greater achievement of the JNC program.

Thank you.