Gaborone, Botswana – The Southern African Development Community and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to strengthen their partnership as global political dynamics continue to shift.
The commitment was made on 31 March 2026 during a meeting between SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi and China’s Ambassador to Botswana and Representative to SADC, His Excellency Fan Yong, in Gaborone.
Ambassador Fan Yong presented four global initiatives introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on development, security, civilisation and governance. He said the initiatives reflect China’s responsibility in international affairs, with priority given to development, sustainable security, respect for diverse civilisations and sovereign equality among nations.
Magosi noted that in the current geopolitical climate, a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between SADC and China is vital to accelerate development across the region. He expressed appreciation for China’s continued support through bilateral partnerships with SADC Member States and cooperation with the SADC Secretariat.
He also thanked China for its annual contribution of US$90,000 to the Secretariat, which has supported various capacity building initiatives.
Both sides agreed to expand collaboration in trade, investment and infrastructure development, using platforms such as the Forum on China Africa Cooperation to drive regional growth.
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