President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will travel to China this weekend for a week-long State Visit aimed at attracting investment, expanding trade and strengthening economic cooperation with Namibia’s largest trading partner.
The Presidency announced on Thursday that Nandi-Ndaitwah will undertake the visit from 5 to 11 July at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, with discussions expected to focus on industrialisation, mining, manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, technology, infrastructure and investment.
The visit comes as Namibia seeks to accelerate economic transformation through value addition, energy security, skills development and technology transfer while deepening cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
During the visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah will hold bilateral talks with President Xi, the Premier of the State Council, senior leaders of the Communist Party of China and provincial and municipal leaders in Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, Sichuan Province and Beijing.
She is also expected to tour leading Chinese manufacturing plants, innovation centres and strategic industrial enterprises, including companies operating in the electronics, telecommunications, renewable energy and nuclear energy sectors, as Namibia looks to secure new investment and industrial partnerships.
The President will further participate in the Namibia-China High-Level Trade and Investment Conference, where government officials and business leaders from both countries will explore opportunities for increased investment, industrial cooperation and expanded market access. Business-to-business engagements and exhibitions showcasing Namibian products are also planned.
The visit comes against the backdrop of rapidly expanding trade between the two countries. China remained Namibia’s largest overall trading partner in 2025, with bilateral trade reaching a record N$40.64 billion, up 10.3% from N$36.86 billion recorded in 2024. Namibia exported goods worth N$22.72 billion to China last year, resulting in a trade surplus of N$4.8 billion.
Trade has continued to grow this year, with bilateral commerce reaching N$14.79 billion during the first four months of 2026.
Namibia exported N$8.17 billion worth of goods to China while importing N$6.62 billion, producing a trade surplus of N$1.55 billion.
However, more than 96% of Namibia’s exports to China remain mineral products, highlighting the government’s push to diversify exports through value addition, agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing.
The Presidency said Chinese investment has made a significant contribution to Namibia’s economy, particularly in mining, manufacturing, infrastructure development and renewable energy, supporting employment creation and economic growth.
Beyond economic cooperation, the two countries are expected to discuss regional and international issues, as well as cooperation in multilateral forums and South-South partnerships.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah will be accompanied by Cabinet ministers, senior government officials and representatives of the Namibian business community.
