Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived in Botswana Saturday for a two-day visit that will include meeting with President Ian Khama as well as Chinese nationals and the signing of several agreements.
"The main purpose of the visit is to further strengthen cooperation and relations between the two countries", said Xi upon arrival in Gaborone where he was welcomed by Botswana's Vice President Mompati Merafte.
During the visit, the Chinese vice president will undertake a tour of Diamond Trading Company Botswana, a joint venture between the governement and De Beers. It is the world's largest diamond sorting and valuing operation.
According to government spokesman Jeff Ramsay the highlights of the visit include the signing of the agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, which offers Botswana a grant of RMB 40 Million (4.4 millions euros, 6.0 millions dollars) for development projects.
Other agreements to be signed during the visit include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science and technology, one between Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), China Development Bank and Golden Concord Group on cooperation in the areas of infrastructure and energy development.
Another one will be signed between the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China on financial support for development projects and the Letters of Exchange on a grant to build a primary school in Botswana.
Botswana, the first producer of diamonds, and China established diplomatic relations in 1975 and the two countries have been cooperating in various areas such as public health, law enforcement, human resource development and infrastructure development.
After visiting South Africa and Angola, Xi is expected to leave Botswana on Monday morning for China.
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