China Power | Diplomacy | East Asia

As the World Courts Beijing, Namibia Shows How Africa Can Sharpen Its China Strategy

A recent state visit offers lessons for African governments on how to translate high-level diplomacy into industrial partnerships, value addition, and development outcomes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping walks with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 10, 2026.

Since the start of 2026, few capitals have seen more diplomatic traffic than Beijing. A non-stop stream of world leaders has arrived seeking to deepen or recalibrate relations with China. Beyond the most headline-grabbing visits by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaders from Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Uruguay, Ireland, South Korea, Vietnam, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, have all made their way to China with distinct objectives in mind. 

This burst of diplomatic engagement has take place against a backdrop of mounting global uncertainty caused by trade disputes, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions. As one of the world’s largest trading nations, home to some of the most complete industrial and manufacturing ecosystems, and a key node in global supply chains, the appeal of China is clear.

Yet this global trend has received far less attention for its implications for Africa, even as African leaders and senior officials – including Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo, Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Seychelles’ Foreign Minister Barry Faure, and South Africa’s Deputy President Paulus Mashatile – have also traveled to China this year.

African governments cannot assume that the diplomatic status quo will remain unchanged. The most recent visit by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah from Namibia – a country of about 3.1 million people in the western corner of southern Africa – provides a useful lens through which to examine how African countries can strengthen their development objectives in this increasingly competitive diplomatic environment. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah made China one of her first major international destinations after taking office, helping to maintain momentum from previous administrations, strengthen relationships with Chinese counterparts, and reassure investors that long-term cooperation remains a priority.

More importantly, Nandi-Ndaitwah brought with her a clear agenda.

The first notable feature of her visit was the structure of the itinerary itself. The Namibian delegation began their week-long journey in Guangdong and Sichuan provinces before concluding in the capital. This approach was significant because the selected destinations were closely connected to China’s regional strengths and Namibia’s own development priorities. Guangdong, China’s leading province by economic output and a pioneer of the “reform and opening up” policy, provided exposure to one of the country’s most dynamic manufacturing, technology, and business ecosystems.

In Sichuan, the delegation’s visit to local agricultural research facilities reflected Namibia’s interest in practical solutions to food security challenges, including drought-resistant crop varieties, agricultural technology, and modern farming equipment. The province has already been involved in advancing cooperation with Namibia in areas such as lithium resource development, biomass power projects, and green ammonia initiatives.

Second, local processing and value addition emerged as recurring themes throughout the visit. A notable example was Nandi-Ndaitwah’s delegation’s tour of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base in Shenzhen, which is managed by China General Nuclear Power Corporation, the operator of Namibia’s Husab Uranium Mine – one of China’s largest single industrial investments in Africa.

Importantly, Namibia’s interest extends beyond attracting investment in resource extraction. The delegation used the visit to explore opportunities for greater domestic value addition, including seeking Chinese support to develop local uranium processing and enrichment capabilities. This reflects a........

© The Diplomat