Building prosperity in Botswana

During his state visit to China on August 30, 2018, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi quoted a Chinese saying to emphasize the importance of strengthening infrastructure in Botswana. "Want to get rich, build roads first," he said, expressing his appreciation for China's great assistance in developing Africa's infrastructure.

Located in Southern Africa, Botswana is a land-locked country that relies heavily on road transport. And since taking office in April 2018, President Masisi has focused on developing the country's transport infrastructure to boost his country's economy and improve the employment situation. To realize this, he approached Africa's most reliable friend, China, for help, hoping that under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative more pragmatic cooperation could be realized in constructing roads and railways. A consensus on practical cooperation on transportation infrastructure was arrived at with President Xi Jinping when President Masisi paid a state visit to China and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2018. The two sides agreed that the Nata-Maun Road Project would be one of the priorities.

The Nata-Maun Road is a major road connecting Francistown, the second-largest city in the east of the country, to Maun in the northwest. With the responsibility of serving tourism and logistics, the existing 300-kilometer road linking the two cities, which was completed in 1992, has already passed its 20-year life expectancy.

I checked the road's condition in May. Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta, is a major tourism destination. It takes only half an hour on a small plane to see the endless beauty of the delta.

Driving eastward through the Kalahari Desert, tourists arrive at the famous Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan national parks. On the north and south sides of the road, salt pans and low vegetation stretch to the horizon. But because of long overdue service and poor maintenance the road is in dire straits now. The road near the salt pans in particularly, is full of potholes due to the low-lying terrain and frequent flood erosions. Because of the traffic problems they cause, those traveling from Francistown to Maun have to take a nearly 100-km detour. Surrounding tourist attractions have also suffered severe business losses. The residents were very happy when they heard that the Chinese government was going to help rebuild the road.

As one of the outcomes of implementing the infrastructure connectivity initiative among the eight major initiatives proposed during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, the Nata-Maun Road is valued by both China and Botswana. In May, Botswana's Minister of Finance and Economic Development Kenneth Matambo and I signed an agreement for a feasibility study. After two months of field research by Chinese experts, the paper work was done.

At present, the preparatory work is under way. China will work with Botswana to ensure that the contractors use local labor and materials as much as possible and create more jobs for local communities. Once completed, the road will improve connectivity and tourism resources, thus helping northwest Botswana's economic development.

Reconstruction of the Nata-Maun Road is an example of infrastructure cooperation between China and Botswana. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1975, the two countries have been supporting each other. China always upholds its concept of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith with justice while pursuing shared interests. By providing concessional loans at low interest, China is committed to helping Botswana break through infrastructure bottlenecks to promote economic development.

The two sides have completed a number of road and railway projects in Botswana. While promoting the Nata-Maun Road project, two road projects in Botswana's capital of Gaborone were also selected for feasibility studies

Bilateral relations have brought tangible benefits to Botswana's people as China has helped build schools and contracted livelihood projects such as low-income housing.

Through the 2018 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China-Botswana practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development has been pushed onto the fast track and bilateral relations have shown broader prospects. As developing countries, China and Botswana share the same aspiration for happiness and a better life.

So, it is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples to enhance bilateral cooperation. High-level exchanges must be further strengthened. Development strategies must be better aligned. A community with a shared future between China and Africa will then be closer.

As the two countries mark the 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties next year, as China's ambassador to Botswana, I feel blessed to witness this significant moment when the two countries are moving into a new era of bilateral relations with further exchanges and cooperation.

At the opening ceremony of the 2018 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, President Xi said: "Africa's development has great potential. This great continent is full of hope. China-Africa friendship and cooperation have broad vistas, and China and Africa can forge an even stronger comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership."

During my years in Africa, I have strongly felt that China-Africa cooperation is immeasurably promising. We believe that in the near future, more transportation infrastructure projects like the Nata-Maun Road will be implemented to link all parts of Botswana and even Africa. All these, will converge on the road of mutual development and common prosperity for China and Africa.

The author is China's ambassador to Botswana.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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