Chinese President Xi Jinping and Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko met on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation, particularly in the mining sector. During the talks, the two leaders announced the elevation of China-Botswana ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Boko arrived in China on Monday for a six-day state visit, his first since assuming office in November 2024. Beijing is the second stop on his itinerary, following a visit to Fujian province, where he engaged in discussions on industrial development, technology, and investment.
The leaders witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation agreements covering areas such as the Global Security Initiative, Belt and Road cooperation, green minerals, health, and human resources. President Xi emphasized the importance of China-Africa mining cooperation, urging that Africa’s abundant mineral resources belong to the continent and should be leveraged to support its modernization without becoming tools of geopolitical rivalry.
Xi outlined four proposals to advance mining cooperation between China and Africa, which include sharing Chinese expertise to assist African countries in developing mining plans tailored to their national contexts, promoting fairness and mutual benefit, transferring green technologies suitable for African conditions, and encouraging South-South cooperation in the sector. He also called for a focus on high-quality development, greater value addition in mining projects, and the exploration of innovative financing models that are both affordable and sustainable.
Highlighting the longstanding relationship between the two countries, Xi recalled Botswana’s support for restoring the People’s Republic of China’s seat at the United Nations in the 1970s, ahead of establishing formal diplomatic relations in 1975. He expressed China’s readiness to support Botswana’s development path and encouraged enhanced economic and trade cooperation, including taking advantage of China’s zero-tariff treatment for African countries with diplomatic ties. Furthermore, Xi expressed willingness to collaborate with Botswana in digital economy, agriculture, animal husbandry, and smart education projects to foster economic and social progress.
President Boko commended China’s achievements under Xi’s leadership, noting that Botswana considers China’s development experience to be instructive. He reaffirmed Botswana’s adherence to the one-China principle and opposed any separatist movements related to Taiwan, as well as foreign interference in China’s internal affairs. Boko expressed eagerness to attract more Chinese investment and expand cooperation under the Belt and Road framework, including in industry, agriculture, mining, innovation, and digital transformation, aiming for tangible benefits.
Boko also welcomed Xi’s four global initiatives, seeing them as reflective of China’s responsibility amid significant global challenges. He emphasized Botswana’s commitment to enhancing coordination with China, supporting multilateralism, promoting solidarity among developing nations, and advancing China-Africa cooperation to foster a more inclusive and representative global governance system.
Bilateral trade between China and Botswana reached $1.22 billion in 2025, marking a 21.3 percent increase from the previous year, according to China’s Foreign Ministry. The upgraded strategic partnership seeks to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, supporting Botswana’s development goals and contributing to broader China-Africa relations.