China means well in Africa: Ngatjizeko

THE Ministry of Trade and Industry has come out in full force to support Namibia’s connection and dealings with the Chinese, denouncing negative criticism that has been surrounding the China-Africa affair.

In a strongly worded speech, Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko yesterday said the negative reports in the local and international media were only aimed at causing suspicions and distrust among Africans about China’s interest on the continent. “I would like to emphasise unambiguously that the Namibian Government has no doubt that China means well and is entitled to trade and investment in or with any country of its choice, just like all other countries are free to do.The historical records are there for all to inspect and judge objectively.”Strangely, those who consistently at all costs rejected our pleas for independence have now appointed themselves as champions of Africa’s economic interests,” said Ngatjizeko while addressing a business seminar during the Namibia-China joint economic and trade commission held in Windhoek.Last year Beijing hosted its first ‘China-Africa Summit’, which was well attended by African heads of state and businesspeople, aimed at strengthening economic ties between the emerging economic powerhouse and its African counterparts.However, this meeting was met with scepticism from various quarters, which said China was interested in exploiting Africa’s natural resources to drive its booming economy.Some African businesses have complained that they are being pushed out of business and feel threatened as China is stifling African manufacturing by flooding the market with cheap imports and cheap labour.However, Ngatjizeko said China had made remarkable economic achievements which should be emulated by Africa, and also as a way to enhance South-South co-operation.”Unproductive sentiments bordering on xenophobia and outright narrow-mindedness not supported by historical and empirical evidence should not be entertained by Africans as regards our Chinese brothers, who supported us all these years without any counter-demands,” he said.The two-day business conference saw local businesses meeting with a visiting Chinese delegation as a means to forge economic ties between the two nations.Exports from Namibia to China stood at US$120 million in 2006, and Chinese exports to Namibia were at US$130 million.Currently, Namibia has two trade agreements in force signed during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Namibia.The many Chinese businesspeople, led by the Vice Minister of Commerce, Gao Huncheng, represented various companies interested in doing business with Namibia.Namibians were urged to explore the vast Chinese market in the sectors of mineral processing, meat, leather products, natural oils, fish, investment, agriculture and aquaculture.The Vice President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, John Endjala, said more could be done to derive better profits for both Namibia and investors through value addition of Namibia’s raw products.”The Namibian business community would like to work with our Chinese brothers and sisters to explore opportunities in value-addition activities so that our minerals, agricultural produce and other raw materials produced here can be turned into processed goods which can be exported to various destinations on the world market.”This was the second time the Namibia-China joint economic and trade commission was held, after the first held in Beijing in 2006.The meeting was well attended by Namibian businesspeople and Government officials, including Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Finance Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Minister of Presidential Affairs Albert Kawana.At the end of the seminar yesterday afternoon, the Chinese business delegation and its Namibian counterparts signed a number of memorandums of understanding.”I would like to emphasise unambiguously that the Namibian Government has no doubt that China means well and is entitled to trade and investment in or with any country of its choice, just like all other countries are free to do.The historical records are there for all to inspect and judge objectively.”Strangely, those who consistently at all costs rejected our pleas for independence have now appointed themselves as champions of Africa’s economic interests,” said Ngatjizeko while addressing a business seminar during the Namibia-China joint economic and trade commission held in Windhoek.Last year Beijing hosted its first ‘China-Africa Summit’, which was well attended by African heads of state and businesspeople, aimed at strengthening economic ties between the emerging economic powerhouse and its African counterparts.However, this meeting was met with scepticism from various quarters, which said China was interested in exploiting Africa’s natural resources to drive its booming economy.Some African businesses have complained that they are being pushed out of business and feel threatened as China is stifling African manufacturing by flooding the market with cheap imports and cheap labour.However, Ngatjizeko said China had made remarkable economic achievements which should be emulated by Africa, and also as a way to enhance South-South co-operation.”Unproductive sentiments bordering on xenophobia and outright narrow-mindedness not supported by historical and empirical evidence should not be entertained by Africans as regards our Chinese brothers, who supported us all these years without any counter-demands,” he said.The two-day business conference saw local businesses meeting with a visiting Chinese delegation as a means to forge economic ties between the two nations.Exports from Namibia to China stood at US$120 million in 2006, and Chinese exports to Namibia were at US$130 million.Currently, Namibia has two trade agreements in force signed during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Namibia.The many Chinese businesspeople, led by the Vice Minister of Commerce, Gao Huncheng, represented various companies interested in doing business with Namibia.Namibians were urged to explore the vast Chinese market in the sectors of mineral processing, meat, leather products, natural oils, fish, investment, agriculture and aquaculture.The Vice President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, John Endjala, said more could be done to derive better profits for both Namibia and investors through value addition of Namibia’s raw products.”The Namibian business community would like to work with our Chinese brothers and sisters to explore opportunities in value-addition activities so that our minerals, agricultural produce and other raw materials produced here can be turned into processed goods which can be exported to various destinations on the world market.”This was the second time the Namibia-China joint economic and trade commission was held, after the first held in Beijing in 2006.The meeting was well attended by Namibian businesspeople and Government officials, including Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Finance Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Minister of Presidential Affairs Albert Kawana.At the end of the seminar yesterday afternoon, the Chinese business delegation and its Namibian counterparts signed a number of memorandums of understanding.