China has pledged to deepen cooperation with Namibia in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and critical minerals during a state visit by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to Beijing.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first female president, met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday as part of a seven-day visit aimed at attracting investment to support job creation and diversify the Southern African country’s economy.
The two countries signed eight agreements, including documents covering green minerals and an economic partnership framework.
“In Namibia, we affirm an unwavering commitment to this longstanding friendship between Namibia and China,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said, noting that her delegation included dozens of business representatives.
Xi said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s decision to make China her first state visit outside Africa since taking office showed the importance Windhoek places on its relationship with Beijing.
“China is willing to deepen cooperation with Namibia in infrastructure construction, energy, minerals, agriculture, education, youth, and science and technology,” China’s state news agency Xinhua said in a readout of the meeting.
A joint statement cited by Xinhua said both sides recognised the strategic value of critical minerals and agreed to strengthen cooperation in uranium, lithium and rare earths. It also emphasised local processing, technology transfer and skills development.
Namibia is already a key supplier of minerals to China. According to a recent International Monetary Fund report, China buys about a quarter of Namibia’s total exports. Uranium made up 85% of the $1.3 billion worth of Namibian goods purchased by China last year.
Chinese firms have also invested heavily in Namibia’s metals sector. Data from the American Enterprise Institute shows Chinese investment in the country at $4.2 billion, almost all of it in mining and metals.
Namibia is also attracting growing interest from global energy firms. The country could become Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer by 2030 after Shell and TotalEnergies discovered an estimated 2.6 billion barrels of crude and announced plans to begin production.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who took office in 2025, has pledged to create jobs and reduce reliance on a narrow resource base. In her inauguration speech, she called for a “green revolution” based on agriculture, water resources and new industries.
The IMF has said Namibia needs structural reforms to boost employment, pointing to agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, and green hydrogen as areas with growth potential.