China has encouraged more competitive Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Namibia as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah concludes her state visit and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to undertake a state visit to Namibia.

A joint statement issued following bilateral talks between Nandi-Ndaitwah and Xi in Beijing outlines plans to deepen industrial cooperation, expand local mineral processing and strengthen skills development.

The two countries pledged to align their trade and investment priorities in a framework agreement on economic partnership.

The statement indicates that Namibia is set to participate in the International Economic and Trade Cooperation Initiative on Green Mining and Minerals, launched in 2025 by China and more than 20 other countries.

The initiative seeks to build equitable partnerships with resource-rich developing countries to ensure secure supply chains for minerals critical to the global energy transition.

Namibia and China identified uranium, lithium, rare earth elements and other strategic minerals as key areas for expanded cooperation, focused on local processing, beneficiation and value addition.

Cooperation will also expand to smart customs systems, food safety regulation and quarantine for the prevention and control of animal and plant diseases.