H.E. Dr. Zhao Yanbo held the National Day Reception at Chinese Embassy in Gaborone celebrating the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on the evening of September 28th, 2017. Around 200 guests from Botswana government, parliament and various circles of society in Botswana attended the reception, including senior government officials Mme. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Kgosi Puso Gaborone, Chairman of House of Chiefs, Mr. Stlumber Tsogwane, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo and Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi delivered speeches at the reception.

Ambassador Zhao said over the past 68 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have created one miracle after another. China is getting closer and closer to realize the 'Chinese dream' of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China has played an active role in maintaining world peace and promoting global development. We have contributed the China wisdom, China solutions and China strength. Over the year, G20 Summit, the Belt and Road Forum and the BRICS Summit were successfully held in China, demonstrating that China is willing to share its development opportunities with other countries, especially the developing countries so as to achieve common development.

Ambassador Zhao pointed out that the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be convened on 18th October in Beijing. The Congress will review the Party's work over the past five years and will make action plans and design fundamental policies that are forward-looking and in keeping with the times. This will be a meeting that will help make sure the giant ship of China continue to ride the waves and go full steam ahead.

Ambassador Zhao recalled that it's going to be one year since he arrived in Botswana last November and he feels China and Botswana have a very profound foundation of traditional friendship and good cooperation. Both sides have always mutually respected each other and treated each other as equals. Two countries have cooperated in many fields, such as trade, investment, culture, education, health and wildlife protection with fruitful results. Peoples of both countries have benefited from the cooperation. Recent years have witnessed increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. China and Botswana also have much to offer to each other in our respective development strategies, such as NPD11 and Vision 2036 aiming economic diversification and employment promotion. Meanwhile, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced China-Africa 10 Cooperative Action Plans and The Belt and Road Initiative. Two countries have huge room for cooperation in various areas such as infrastructural construction, new energy, manufacturing industry, agriculture and traveling. China is willing to work with Botswana to continuously improve mutual political trust and continuously promote the friendly cooperative relations.

Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi congratulated on the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and commended the social and economic achievements of China. She said that she visited China for many times and was always amazed at the rapid development of China and the spirit of unity and endeavour of the Chinese people. She also appreciated that China as a responsible major power in the international community always plays a positive role at UN Security Council in addressing issues of peace and security on both international and regional level. She appreciated that the development support from China to African countries through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) provides a good platform for deepening mutual respect and close collaboration.

Mme. Venson-Moitoi also expressed Botswana Government's gratitude for the invaluable support China has consistently rendered to Botswana especially recent grant assistance from China towards the relief efforts following the flood damage caused by Cyclone Dineo. She said Botswana is willing to further strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen communication at all levels and bilateral relations continue to grow stronger.

Guests spoke highly of the developments in China. The reception concluded in a friendly and joyful atmosphere and attracted a number of local media.