President Duma Gideon Boko Visits China to Expand Trade

President Duma Gideon Boko is conducting a state visit to China from October 12 to 17, 2026, following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks Boko's first state visit to the country since taking office, aiming to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.

Boko is specifically targeting Chinese expertise in the digital economy and renewable energy, with a focus on power infrastructure and energy storage. He is also working to secure agreements that would allow Botswana's citrus produce to enter the Chinese market tariff-free, utilizing China's zero-tariff treatment for African nations. Additionally, the president expressed interest in partnering with Chinese research and development firms to transition Botswana into a manufacturer for the Chinese market.

The two nations elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in September 2024. This collaboration has already produced infrastructure projects such as the Thune Dam and the Jwaneng 100 MW Solar Power Plant, with bilateral trade reaching 1.222 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. Botswana has further integrated into China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.

Beyond economics, the partnership includes long-term cooperation in healthcare and education. Chinese medical teams have served in Botswana since 1981, and the two countries have established Confucius Institutes and a Mining Centre of Excellence to foster academic and linguistic exchange.