Namibian President Nandi-Ndaitwah Begins State Visit to China
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah arrived in China on July 5 for a week-long state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking her first trip to China since assuming office in March 2025. The visit, running through July 11, aims to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two nations, with discussions expected to cover trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, and regional affairs.
Background and Diplomatic Context
China and Namibia established diplomatic relations on March 22, 1990, shortly after Namibia’s independence, and elevated their ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” in 2018. According to Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced the visit on July 3, stating that the trip “will contribute to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era and the pursuit of the Global South for strength through unity.”
The visit follows the Ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit held in Beijing in September 2024, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Itinerary and High-Level Meetings
President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s itinerary includes stops in Beijing, Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen), and Sichuan Province. In Beijing, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony, welcome banquet, and bilateral talks. Premier Li Qiang and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji will also meet with her separately, as reported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
As part of the programme, the Namibian leader will tour Chinese manufacturing facilities, innovation centers, and strategic industrial enterprises, including engagements with companies in the electronics, telecommunications, renewable energy, and nuclear energy sectors. She will also participate in the Namibia–China High-Level Trade and Investment Conference, bringing together government leaders and business executives from both countries.
Economic Relations and Trade
China is Namibia’s largest overall trading partner and the country’s second-largest export destination and source of imports after South Africa. According to the Namibia Economist, bilateral trade reached a record N$40.64 billion (approximately US$2.2 billion) in 2025, an increase of 10.3 percent from N$36.86 billion recorded in 2024. Namibia’s exports to China rose to N$22.72 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of N$4.80 billion.
Chinese investment has made substantial contributions to Namibia’s economy, particularly in mining, manufacturing, infrastructure development, and renewable energy. These investments continue to support employment creation, revenue generation, and national development.
Sectors of Cooperation
Discussions during the visit are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across a wide range of priority sectors, including trade and investment, mining and mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, renewable energy and green hydrogen, infrastructure development, education and skills development, science and technology, digital innovation, public health, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains a key component of bilateral engagement, supporting infrastructure development, housing, education, healthcare, water security, and renewable energy projects.
Analysis and Implications
The visit signals continuity and strengthening of Namibia’s foreign policy alignment with China. As BBC News has noted, President Nandi-Ndaitwah — Namibia’s first female president and a veteran of the SWAPO party — has been a loyal member of the governing party since her teenage years and pledges to lead Namibia’s economic transformation.
Namibia’s focus on green hydrogen and renewable energy aligns with China’s global energy transition investments, while the inclusion of Guangdong and Sichuan in the itinerary suggests interest in provincial-level economic cooperation. The visit also positions Namibia as a key partner in China’s Africa strategy, particularly in Southern Africa.
What to Watch For
Observers will be watching for specific agreements or memoranda of understanding to be signed during the visit, particularly regarding Chinese investment in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector and infrastructure development. The visit also provides an opportunity to advance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the outcomes of FOCAC, with potential announcements on new development projects expected in the coming days.
As the Global South continues to pursue greater unity and influence in global governance, the strengthening of China-Namibia ties represents a significant development in South-South cooperation.