Justicia Shipena
Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping says China will soon work with Namibia to implement zero-tariff treatment for African countries soon.
In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will remove tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties. He made the announcement at a China–Africa cooperation meeting.
China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for the past 15 years. In 2023, African exports to China were valued at about US$170 billion, roughly N$3.15 trillion.
The announcement comes as the continent faces increased tariffs on products entering the United States.
“We will work with the Namibian side to implement the zero-tariff treatment to African countries as soon as possible,” said Weiping on Friday at the celebration of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 35th anniversary of Namibia–China diplomatic relations in Windhoek.
He said the move will align bilateral trade with Namibia’s needs, helping the country achieve industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.
The measure will expand on last year’s decision to drop tariffs on goods from 33 African countries classified as “least developed”.
The new list will cover major African economies such as South Africa and Nigeria.
In March, China received a shipment of over 800 African ornamental fish through Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Hunan Province.
Meanwhile, Namibia recorded trade surpluses with China worth N$2.8 billion last year.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached about US$1.3 billion in 2024. Data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) earlier this year showed China remained Namibia’s top export destination in November 2024.
Weiping said China has long been Namibia’s major trading partner and the largest source of foreign direct investment.
He noted that the 2018 decision by President Xi and former President Hage Geingob to establish a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership was a key milestone in bilateral ties.
In June, Namibia’s international relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, attended the FOCAC Ministerial Meeting in Changsha, China.
Weiping said these exchanges reflect “the good momentum of development” in relations.
He pledged that China would continue supporting Namibia’s socio-economic goals under the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
“We are full of confidence in the future of China-Namibia relations,” he said, adding that both countries, as members of the global south, share values of multilateralism and fairness.
Weiping stated that the 35 years of cooperation have “bloomed and yielded results, transforming into a beacon of south-south collaboration.”
Namibia’s deputy minister of international relations and trade, Jenelly Matundu, said cooperation between Namibia and China has grown across key sectors, including trade, infrastructure, energy, education, public health, defence, culture, and technology.
She highlighted China’s support in renewable energy projects, schools and housing construction, and the Hosea Kutako International Airport road.
“Namibia equally values the people-to-people exchanges that have deepened understanding and friendship between our citizens. Chinese scholarships continue to empower Namibian students and professionals in diverse fields,” Matundu said.
She added that at the multilateral level, Namibia and China work together for a fairer international order.
She noted Namibia’s recognition of China’s support for Africa’s development agenda, including through the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation.
“Namibia remains committed to advancing our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, fostering closer economic cooperation, expanding opportunities for our peoples, and strengthening collaboration in science, green energy, and technology to address global challenges such as climate change,” she said.
