The Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Mr. Zheng Zhuqiang, paid a courtesy call to the SADC Executive Secretary, HE. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, on 21st January 2016. They agreed to strengthen SADC-China cooperation in line with the Resolutions and Plan of Action that was adopted during the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 4-5 December, 2015. The Ambassador reiterated the Chinese government's commitment to strengthen cooperation with the SADC Secretariat and SADC Member States. In that regard, the two parties agreed to explore ways of the establishment of a platform of closer cooperation for mutual benefits.
Dr. Tax thanked the Ambassador for visiting SADC, and appreciated the financial contributions to continued support to the SADC Secretariat. She conveyed the Secretariat's readiness to continued cooperation with the government of China. Dr. Tax emphasised the importance of implementing the SADC Industrialisation Strategy, as an area where the two parties can enhance cooperation through enhanced trade, investment and science and technology for mutual benefit in the context of the Africa-China Plan of Action.
