Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday stressed China has never interfered in other countries' internal affairs. Wang made the remarks during a meeting on bilateral ties with Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi. 

Wang emphasized that in foreign relations China adheres to the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal, reaffirming that China stands ready to be a long-term and reliable cooperative partner of Botswana.

Since taking office, President Masisi has cherished the friendly tradition between the two countries, firmly adhered to the one-China principle, timely restored mutual trust between the two countries and pushed bilateral relations on the track of sound development. China appreciates these efforts, Wang said. 

"We are willing to join in Botswana to further implement the important consensus between the two heads of state, achievements of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19," said Wang.

He added, China is also willing to join in Botswana to strengthen the party-to-party and people-to-people exchanges, deepen post-COVID-19 bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Wang said that Africa has achieved political independence through a hard struggle, but it still needs to make continued efforts to truly achieve economic independence.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with African countries including Botswana within the framework of the FOCAC, ensure the success of the new session of the FOCAC, upgrade China-Africa cooperation, help African countries turn their resource advantages into development advantages and accelerate their capacity for independent development, Wang said.

President Masisi said that Botswana attaches great importance to the Botswana-China relations. Botswana takes the one-China principle as the foundation of the development of bilateral relations and remains firm in this regard.

Masisi thanked the Chinese side for its tremendous assistance to the Botswana government and people in achieving development and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Botswana admires China's development achievements and is full of expectations for the future of Botswana-China relations.

Botswana is willing to be a reliable partner of mutual benefit with China, Masisi said. China is welcome to increase investment in Botswana, strengthen cooperation in industrial parks, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, and help Botswana contribute "patents of Botswana" to the world.

On the same day, Wang also held talks with Botswana's Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Lemogang Kwape.

Wang said a broad consensus on strengthening bilateral relations and promoting cooperation in various fields reached by the two countries' heads of state has played a strategic leading role in the development of China-Botswana relations.

The Chinese minister said China is not only a developing country economically, but also has always been on the side of developing countries politically, and that China is willing to work with Botswana to uphold multilateralism, oppose unilateral bullying, and firmly safeguard the UN-based international system and an international order based on international law.

Wang told Kwape that China will also work with Botswana to actively promote the synergy of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the African Union's Agenda 2063, and enhance the voice of developing countries in international affairs.

On his part, Kwape said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have respected each other as bilateral relations have deepened continuously and shown a positive momentum of development.

He said that Botswana is willing to hold a meeting of the bilateral economic, trade and technical joint committee with China as soon as possible, and strengthen cooperation in agriculture, tourism, trade and human resources development to promote bilateral relations.

China, Botswana sign MoU on BRI cooperation

China and Botswana on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Wang and Kwape signed the MoU after their talks in Gaborone.

Wang said the BRI is an important international cooperation initiative and a public product provided by China to the international community.

The focus is to help developing countries strengthen infrastructure construction, better realize connectivity and enhance their independent development capabilities, he said.

The two countries signed an agreement on jointly building the BRI on Thursday, making Botswana the 46th partner country in Africa in BRI cooperation, said Wang.

This year coincides with the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana, which is a beautiful symbol, he said.

Masisi and Kwape both congratulated on the signing of the agreement to jointly build the BRI, hailing it a new progress in China-Botswana relations that will provide new impetus for the cooperation between the two countries.

Spokesperson for Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying on Friday also spoke highly of Wang's visit, adding that the signing of the agreement marks the highlight of bilateral cooperation which is surely a starting point for the two countries to further deepen win-win cooperation in new areas and create new opportunities for the development of bilateral ties.

China is ready to implement the important consensus between the two heads of state and achievements of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, Hua said, and hopes the two countries can work together to strengthen political mutual trust and step up cooperation to a higher level.

The Chinese foreign minister is on a five-nation tour in Africa, his first overseas trip this year, from January 4 to 9. Botswana was Wang's third stop following his visits to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tanzania and the archipelagic island nation of the Seychelles are next on his itinerary.

(With input from Xinhua)