Namibia and China on Thursday marked 35 years of diplomatic and economic partnership with the release of the first corporate social responsibility report of Chinese enterprises in Namibia and the opening of the Namibia-China Investment and Trade Fair 2025.

WINDHOEK, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Namibia and China on Thursday marked 35 years of diplomatic and economic partnership with the release of the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report of Chinese enterprises in Namibia and the opening of the Namibia-China Investment and Trade Fair 2025.

Speaking at the event in Windhoek, the southern African country's capital, senior officials, diplomats, and business leaders highlighted the enduring friendship between the two nations and underscored opportunities for deeper cooperation in trade, investment, and sustainable development.

Namibian Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy Gaundentia Krohne said the CSR report demonstrates the value of responsible investment. "It highlights investments in education, skills development, job creation, and environmental sustainability that directly improve the lives of Namibians," she said.

According to the report, Chinese enterprises have created more than 10,000 jobs in Namibia since 2015 across sectors such as mining, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and services. Tax contributions rose from 10.8 billion Namibian dollars (about 611 million U.S. dollars) in 2020 to 16.7 billion Namibian dollars in 2024, while local procurement doubled from 6.4 billion to 13.6 billion Namibian dollars over the same period.

The report noted that Chinese enterprises increased their public welfare donations nearly threefold, rising from 27.9 million Namibian dollars in 2020 to 67.7 million Namibian dollars in 2024, with local job creation increasing from 7,663 in 2020 to over 10,500 in 2024.

Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping called the report "a historic milestone," urging Chinese companies to continue deepening their responsibilities.

"Chinese enterprises in Namibia should act as ambassadors to bring our two peoples even closer," Zhao said, adding that Namibia is set to witness rapid social and economic growth in the next five to 10 years.

Former Namibian Ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo encouraged Chinese investors to expand their engagement in Namibia's key sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, mining, and renewable energy.

He noted that Namibia is negotiating expanded access to the Chinese market for beef, mutton, aquatic products, and grapes, building on recent approvals for mutton and goat exports.

Representing the Chinese business community, Diao Chunhe, executive president of the Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa for Social Responsibilities, said the delegation's visit built on outcomes of last year's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. He cited projects such as the Husab Uranium Mine, the Walvis Bay port expansion, and photovoltaic power stations as examples of the fruitful cooperation between China and Namibia.

The CSR report, compiled by the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia (ACEN) and its partners, documents contributions in education, community upliftment, skills transfer, and green growth initiatives, aligning with Namibia's Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The trade fair, organized in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featured matchmaking sessions connecting Namibian entrepreneurs with Chinese investors across mining, agriculture, energy, information and communications technology, and infrastructure sectors.

"Chinese enterprises are not mere visitors but deeply rooted partners. What we bring is not only projects, but actions that grow together with the local community," said Luo Wei, president of ACEN.

Officials emphasized that Namibia and China will continue to build on their 35-year partnership through inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and strengthened people-to-people ties.