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 Botswana |  China |
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Botswana - People's Republic of China relations refers to thecurrent and historical relationship between theBotswana and thePeople's Republic of China. Relations were first established on 6 January 1975.[1]: 348 In 2010, upon the 35th anniversary of relations being formalized, the relationship between the two states was considered "strong" and "rapidly growing" by then Chinese ambassador to Botswana,Liu Huanxing.[2] Botswana follows theOne China Policy which means Botswana does not have relations with theRepublic of China (Taiwan). Following the2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, the Botswana government donated one millionpula.[2]
Beginning in the 1980s, economic and commercial relations expanded rapidly between the two countries. In 2008, the total trade volume between Botswana and China was nearly 360 million US dollars. From January–October 2009, trade volume still totaled 193 million in 10 months despite theGreat Recession.[2] In February 2009, Chinese officials urged Botswana to further expand economic relations, specifically in Botswana's crucial diamond industry, citing growing Chinese demand for diamonds in the face of lessening demand in the other large economies.[3]
Since the firstForum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, the Chinese government has successfully delivered $129 million in development finance to Botswana.[4] Of that total, only $52 million falls under the OECD-DAC criteria forOfficial Development Assistance. TheExim Bank of China provided the rest of the financing to Botswana to fund the Lethlhakeng-Kang road project.[5] China has extended a loan to fund the construction of the Mosetse-Kazungula railway project, which will connect to Zambia via theKazungula Bridge.[6]
In September 2018, China cancelled a debt of 80 millionpula owed by Botswana.[6]
Botswana follows theone China principle. It recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China andTaiwan as an integral part of China's territory, and supports all efforts by the PRC to "achievenational reunification". It also considersHong Kong,Xinjiang andTibet to be China's internal affairs.[7]
In order to facilitate economic expansion, PR China has financed a number of building projects across Botswana. These projects numbered 28 in January 2010 and included railway and roads, health facilities and low-cost housing.[2]
China helped to form the Confucius Institute at theUniversity of Botswana, which opened in September 2009.[8] The Institute promotes Chinese culture, history and language at the university. A growing number of Botswana citizens have traveled to China; in 2005, 400 citizens visited the country, while in 2008, 1,400 did so.[2]
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