By Agbafo Ijeoma
Botswana’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana, has commended Chinese businesses for contributing technology, skills and employment opportunities to communities across the country. Ramaotwana made the remarks in Gaborone during an event to mark the Chinese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.
The minister said relations between Botswana and China had expanded beyond trade to include business cooperation, partnerships and stronger people-to-people exchanges. He described the growing business-to-business cooperation between both countries as encouraging, saying bilateral relations continued to strengthen.
Ramaotwana urged Botswana entrepreneurs to explore joint ventures and other partnerships with Chinese businesses in areas of mutual interest. He said local entrepreneurs had an important role to play in turning bilateral agreements into practical projects while creating employment and sustainable livelihoods for communities.
Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Fan Yong, also highlighted the contribution of Chinese businesses to Botswana’s development and the strengthening of relations between both countries. He said the participation of Batswana in the festival was significant in promoting people-to-people exchanges and advancing the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
More than 300 people attended the celebration organised by the Botswana Shandong Business Association. Government officials, local business owners, members of the Chinese medical team, representatives of the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana and Chinese companies operating in Botswana were among those present, while the event featured Chinese songs, dances and games.
