Botswana - People's Republic of China relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Botswana and the People's Republic of China. Relations were first established on 6 January 1975.[1]: 348 In 2010, upon the 35th anniversary of relations being formalized, the relationship between the two states was considered "strong" and "rapidly growing" by then Chinese ambassador to Botswana, Liu Huanxing.[2] Botswana follows the One China Policy which means Botswana does not have relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, the Botswana government donated one million pula.[2]
Economic development
Beginning in the 1980s, economic and commercial relations expanded rapidly between the two countries. In 2008, the total trade volume between Botswana and China was nearly 360 million US dollars. From January–October 2009, trade volume still totaled 193 million in 10 months despite the worldwide 2008 recession.[2] In February 2009, Chinese officials urged Botswana to further expand economic relations, specifically in Botswana's crucial diamond industry, citing growing Chinese demand for diamonds in the face of lessening demand in the other large economies.[3]
Chinese Development Finance
Since the first Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, the Chinese government has successfully delivered $129 million in development finance to Botswana.[4] Of that total, only $52 million falls under the OECD-DAC criteria for Official Development Assistance. The Exim Bank of China provided the rest of the financing to Botswana to fund the Lethlhakeng-Kang road project.[5] China has extended a loan to fund the construction of the Mosetse-Kazungula railway project, which will connect to Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge.[6]
In September 2018, China cancelled a debt of 80 million pula owed by Botswana.[6]
Building projects in Botswana
In order to facilitate economic expansion, PR China has financed a number of building projects across Botswana. These projects numbered 28 in January 2010 and included railway and roads, health facilities and low-cost housing.[2]
Cultural relations
China helped to form the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, which opened in September 2009.[7] The Institute promotes Chinese culture, history and language at the university. A growing number of Botswana citizens have traveled to China; in 2005, 400 citizens visited the country, while in 2008, 1,400 did so.[2]
^Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development. "AidData | Letlhakeng-Kang road, Phase 1". Archived from the original on 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
^Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development. "AidData | Confucius Institute at University of Botswana". Archived from the original on 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
