On October 16, Chen Dexin, Chairman of China Minmetals, called on President Boko of Botswana, who was on a state visit to China. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on further deepening bilateral cooperation. Fan Yong, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, and Wang Xingquan, Vice President of China Minmetals, attended the talks.

President Boko spoke highly of the operational performance of China Minmetals’ Khoemacau Copper Mine. He noted that the mine has not only effectively promoted local economic development but also expanded employment and markedly raised the skill levels of local employees. The mine has become an important milestone in the history of Botswana-China relations, setting a benchmark and providing valuable experience for all investors coming to Botswana. The comprehensive upgrading of Botswana-China bilateral relations will provide more development opportunities and broader space for China Minmetals in Botswana. Recognizing China Minmetals’ strong technical strength and integrated full-industry-chain advantages in metals and mining, he expressed the hope that both sides would take the mine as an important anchor to further expand areas of cooperation and deepen full-industry-chain cooperation. The Government of Botswana will create better conditions and provide more support for China Minmetals’ development in Botswana.

Chen Dexin thanked President Boko and the Government of Botswana for their long-standing care, guidance and strong support for China Minmetals. He said that the announcement by the two heads of state to elevate China-Botswana relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is highly encouraging and has reinforced China Minmetals’ confidence in future cooperation. In recent years, China Minmetals has focused on the sustainable development of mineral resources in Botswana, fostering a sound pattern in which project-driven growth, talent development and green development advance in coordination. In August this year, he led a team on an on-site survey of the Khoemacau Mine, held face-to-face exchanges with community residents and witnessed the signing of a talent development cooperation agreement, gaining a firsthand appreciation of the growing depth and scope of bilateral cooperation and the widespread recognition of its achievements. China Minmetals will fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, act on the four-point proposal put forward by President Xi Jinping for advancing China-Botswana and China-Africa mining cooperation, further leverage its integrated full-industry-chain advantages in metals and mining, participate more deeply in Botswana’s resource development, make every effort to advance local economic and social development and improve people’s well-being, and make greater contributions to the sustained deepening of the China-Botswana comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Heads of relevant departments and agencies of the Government of Botswana, as well as heads of relevant departments at China Minmetals headquarters and of relevant affiliated enterprises, attended the talks.