Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko concluded a six-day state visit to China from October 12 to 17, 2026, marking his first trip to the country since assuming office in November 2024.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the visit elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and produced multiple agreements aimed at deepening economic, technological, and political cooperation.
The visit began in Fujian Province, where Boko toured sites related to poverty alleviation and industrial development, including Project 3820 in Fuzhou. This benchmarking exercise supports Botswana’s plans for an e-mobility hub. In Beijing, Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan hosted a formal welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on October 13, featuring a 21-gun salute. The two leaders held talks and issued a joint statement establishing the new partnership level.
They witnessed the signing of 11 memorandums of understanding covering Belt and Road cooperation, green mining and minerals, implementation of the Global Security Initiative, health, and human resources.
Xi emphasized that China-Botswana friendship should “shine bright and endure like diamonds.” He proposed four principles for mining cooperation: African resources belonging to Africa, mutual benefit, high-quality development, and a fair, open environment free from geopolitical rivalry.
Cooperation areas highlighted included digital economy, agriculture, livestock, smart education, and leveraging China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic ties.
Boko reaffirmed Botswana’s firm adherence to the one-China principle, praised China’s development achievements—including lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty—and expressed interest in emulating aspects of China’s model for industrialization and economic transformation.
On October 13, Boko also met Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, to discuss legislative exchanges and rule-of-law cooperation. On October 15, he held talks with Premier Li Qiang.
They focused on high-quality Belt and Road projects, mining, digital technologies, green energy, artificial intelligence, upgrading the bilateral investment protection agreement, and expanding people-to-people ties in education, culture, tourism, and healthcare. Boko stressed utilizing the zero-tariff policy and green channels to boost Botswana’s exports.
A highlight was the Botswana-China Business Forum in Beijing, attended by about 30 Botswana companies and hundreds of Chinese firms. Boko participated in a fireside chat, positioning Botswana as a stable gateway to African markets and encouraging Chinese investment. Bilateral trade reached $1.22 billion in 2025, up 21.3 percent year-on-year.
The visit builds on 51 years of diplomatic relations established in 1975 and a strategic partnership upgraded in 2024.
Both sides committed to closer coordination on multilateral issues, support for China’s Global Development, Security, Civilization, and Governance Initiatives, and advancing China-Africa cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Boko returned to Gaborone around October 18, describing the trip as a milestone that opens new avenues for mutual development.