China and Botswana Establish Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership

President Xi Jinping and President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana elevated their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership during a state visit to Beijing on October 13, 2026. The leaders met at the Great Hall of the People and held a welcome ceremony with a 21-gun salute at Tian’anmen Square.

The two nations signed cooperation documents covering the Global Security Initiative, Belt and Road cooperation, health, human resources, and green mining. President Xi proposed a four-point framework for mining cooperation, pledging that China would transfer green technologies and help African nations create tailored development plans to move up the value chain. He stated that "Africa's resources belong to Africa" and urged that these resources not be used as tools for geopolitical rivalry.

President Boko reaffirmed Botswana's commitment to the one-China principle and sought to align development strategies to accelerate industrial, agricultural, and digital transformation. The partnership also emphasizes cooperation in animal husbandry, smart education, and the digital economy, supported by China's zero-tariff policy for African nations.