Honorable Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform,

Mr. Zhang Yechu, Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of Sichuan Province,

Mr. Zhang Xiong,Vice President of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

All Namibian Government Officials Present,

Members of the Sichuan Delegations, 

Friends from the Media,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is my great pleasure to attend the China (Sichuan)-Namibia Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation and Exchange Seminar, which is hosted by the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) of China with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform of the Republic of Namibia. I am honored that Honorable Minister Zaamwani is with us today.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of this important event, which is actually the first-ever seminar themed with agricultural science and technology held in Namibia by a major Chinese academy of agricultural sciences since I became Chinese Ambassador to Namibia almost four years ago.

This seminar is not only the latest testimony to the achievements of China-Namibia agricultural cooperation, but also more importantly one of the major outcomes of the historic state visit to China in July by H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia.

To my observation, agriculture has always been one of the key priorities for President Ndaitwah in terms of China-Namibia cooperation, and thus the President took time out of her very busy schedule during the state visit to pay a site inspection to the Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Demonstration Park of the SAAS.

That happened to be one of the hottest days in that area with the temperature reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius, and it’s also very humid. However, President Ndaitwah stayed in the baking sun on the scientific experimental field for almost 40 minutes having keen discussion with the Chinese experts.

During her time in Sichuan, President Ndaitwah also held fruitful talks with Honorable Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China on deepening friendly exchanges and cooperation between Namibia and the Province.

I am very happy that the leadership of the Sichuan Provincial Government has decided to send two delegations to visit Namibia shortly after President Ndaitwah’s state visit whom we are welcoming here today.

Since I worked in the Sichuan Provincial Government as one of its Deputy Sectary Generals back in the years 2016 and 2017, these two delegations are special for me personally. And actually Deputy Director General Zhang and I became good friends during that period of time.

The visit of the Sichuan delegations has not only demonstrated the enthusiasm of Sichuan Province in enhancing its partnership with Namibia, but also shown the firm determination of the Chinese side to work together with the Namibian side to fully implement the fruitful outcomes of the recent state visit.

Here, I wish to thank Honorable Minister Zaamwani and her esteemed Ministry for their great support which made the visit of the Sichuan delegations and this Seminar possible. 

As our Namibian friends may know, Sichuan is one of the major provincial economies in China, with a highly sophisticated agricultural sector, and the SAAS has been a leading institution of agricultural scientific research in China for many years.

It’s indeed a good news for China-Namibia agricultural cooperation that,  starting from today, we will see stronger connection between Namibia and Sichuan Province. In particular, as I was told, the SAAS hopes to forge regular contacts with the relevant Namibian institutions.

This year is fruitful for China-Namibia agricultural cooperation. As our friends know, green lights have been given for the export of Namibia’s table grapes and wild aquatic life to China. Also, the China-aided borehole drilling project has been progressing.

What’s particularly worth mentioning is the zero tariff policy offered by China to Africa, which will certainly help Namibia to export more agricultural products to China.

In conclusion, I wish today’s event a complete success and even greater achievements in China-Namibia agricultural cooperation in the years to come.

Thank you.