(Ambassador Zhao Weiping, Zambezi, Oct 29, 2024)

Honorable Anna Nghipondoka, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture,

Honorable Matengu Simushi, Chairperson of the ZRC Management Committee,

All Namibian Government officials present,

All the representatives of the local communities,

Dear principals, teachers and learners,  

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

I am very glad to join you at this ceremony of the official handover of the China-Aided Masokotwani and Liselo Combined Schools. I am especially excited to see so many happy kids. It’s indeed a great news for all of us that our learners and teachers at both schools are now able to study and teach in more favorable facilities.

I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to the Namibian Government, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the National Planning Commission, the Regional Council of Zambezi, the people of Zambezi, and in particular the teachers and learners of Masokotwani and Liselo Combined Schools on the successful completion of this important project.  

The Namibian Government and leaders have always taken education as a key priority in national development. I personally had the honor of discussing with Minister Nghipondoka several times on China-Namibia development cooperation in the area of education. Minister Nghipondoka has offered her critical leadership in ensuring the smooth implementation of the project, which I am deeply appreciative of.

As an all-weather friend and close development partner of Namibia, China has always been supportive of Namibia’s social and economic development, and education is the key area of our cooperation.

Masokotwani and Liselo Combined Schools are among the four China-aided rural schools, their construction being started in 2022. With the completion of these four schools, China has altogether donated 9 schools to Namibia since the establishment of China-Namibia diplomatic relations in 1990.

The Chinese side is very happy to contribute itself to the consistent efforts of the Namibian Government in improving Namibia’s educational infrastructure, and we are determined to do more in the years to come. I said this yesterday in Kavango West and I repeat it here in Zambezi. We will certainly do more in the future.

Actually, China is ready to cooperate with Namibia in all the aspects of education.

In August last year, President Xi Jinping announced the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development at the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg South Africa.

In September this year, President Xi announced that China will take ten partnership actions for modernization with Africa. In terms of education cooperation with Africa, China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops. We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths.

I hope and believe that Namibia will benefit from all these important Chinese initiatives of expanding educational cooperation with Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen, China and Namibia not only enjoyed profound traditional friendship, but also share important common interests. We have always been supporting and helping each other as we both belong to the Global South.

President Xi Jinping and President Mbumba had a very successful bilateral meeting at the FOCAC Summit in September, reaching important consensus on pushing forward China-Namibia Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. With our joint efforts, China-Namibia relations will certainly achieve even greater development in the years ahead and bring more tangible benefits to our two peoples.

In conclusion, I wish to thank the Namibian government agencies at all levels and the people of Zambezi for their support of this important project. I also thank the Gansu Construction Investment Group, SIPPR Engineering Group and all the Chinese and Namibian workers. I am very glad to know that the construction of this project has created 400 jobs for Namibia.

I wish today’s event a complete success and good health to all of you. Thank you all!