President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has moved to elevate Namibia's partnership with China, placing youth employment, trade and investment at the centre of talks as she opened her state visit in Guangdong Province.

The President held talks with Guangdong Communist Party Secretary Huang Kunming and said her first state visit outside Africa since assuming office reflects Namibia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with China.

"My presence here in this state visit, which is the first outside the continent since I took office, is to strengthen this bilateral relation," she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Namibian delegation deliberately chose Guangdong as the first stop because of its global reputation for innovation, manufacturing, technology and trade, adding, "We are looking forward to cooperation between the business fraternity of this province and the Namibian business people, as well as our state-owned enterprises." 

Nandi-Ndaitwah recalled accompanying late President Hage Geingob in 2018 when Namibia and China elevated relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the highest level in Chinese foreign policy.

"We were so encouraged when we elevated our cooperation to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and that is what we want to strengthen and to take it to another level," she said.

The President also outlined the priorities of her administration, saying her leadership is anchored on pragmatism, accountability, integrity, meritocracy and inclusivity.

Guangdong Communist Party Secretary Huang said President Nandi-Ndaitwah's visit marks a new phase in relations between the two countries and expressed confidence that her meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping will broaden cooperation.

He said the two countries, as members of the Global South, have vast potential to expand cooperation and praised Namibia's support for investment projects undertaken by Guangdong-based companies, including CGN and Huawei.