Amir Latif Arain
13 October 2026•Update: 13 October 2026
China and Botswana announced on Tuesday the elevation of relations to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," Chinese media reported.
The announcement was made during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Botswanan counterpart Duma Gideon Boko in Beijing, state-run Xinhua News reported.
Boko arrived in Beijing for a six-day visit to China on Monday.
Xi and Boko held "extensive and constructive* discussions on the state and future direction of China-Botswana relations, China-Africa relations and regional and international developments of mutual interest and concern.
The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting international peace and security, sustainable development, multilateralism, respect for international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN.
The two presidents decided to elevate relations to a Comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, opening a "new chapter in the longstanding and evolving relationship between the two countries."
The two agreed to support each other’s efforts to safeguard sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national dignity, security, development and prosperity.
They reaffirmed their staunch support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.
Botswana reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that "there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China."
The two sides also agreed to promote exchanges of experience and mutual learning in governance, public administration, institutional development, sustainable development, economic transformation, modernization, poverty reduction and other areas of mutual interest.
