Africa can always count on China as reliable partner: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, in Beijing, capital of China, April 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China has been a reliable partner that Africa has always been able to count on throughout history, and China's diplomacy stands firmly with developing countries and with African partners, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade, in Beijing.

Expanding and deepening China-Namibia cooperation is in the interest of the two peoples, aligns with the development trend of China-Africa relations, and reflects the efforts of the Global South in strengthening solidarity, Wang noted.

He expressed China's willingness to work with Namibia to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Namibia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China appreciates Namibia's adherence to the one-China principle and firmly supports Namibia in independently pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Wang said. He added that China is willing to work with Namibia to fully leverage the benefits of China's tariff exemption policy and to advance cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, people's livelihoods and youth development.

China is ready to work with Africa in a spirit of mutual trust and support, jointly pursue modernization, strengthen the Global South, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system, Wang noted.

Ashipala-Musavyi appreciates China's long-standing and invaluable support to Namibia and other African countries, adding that no matter how the international landscape may evolve, Namibia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is unwavering in advancing friendly cooperation with China.

Namibia also highly commends China as a source of critical stability in a turbulent world, supports the four major global initiatives put forward by China, and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China to jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, said the minister. ■

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, in Beijing, capital of China, April 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)