GABORONE, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Nelson Ramaotwana on Sunday thanked Chinese partners for bringing technology, skills transfer, jobs for communities to the southern African country.
"Not only trade, we build business, we build relationship, we build partnership," said Ramaotwana at the gathering at Wheelbarrow, a nature park southwest of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, celebrating the Chinese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept. 25 this year.
He also commended the business-to-business collaboration program before the celebration, noting that the relations and cooperation between Botswana and China grow "from strength to strength".
He called on Botswanan entrepreneurs to collaborate with the Chinese business community for joint ventures, and shared interests, noting that "your role is critical to turn agreements into projects, projects into livelihoods of the people of surrounding areas," including donation for elderly people.
Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said he agreed with the minister on his "warm words about our relations, about the function that our Chinese people are doing here in Botswana in helping this country, and developing this country, and connecting this country with our homeland".
He noted that this year a lot of Botswana people joined the very traditional Chinese event, which is very important for people-to-people exchanges, and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Organized by the Botswana Shandong Business Association, the celebration drew over 300 participants, including Helen P. Manyeneng, deputy speaker of Botswana's National Assembly, government officials, local businessmen, and members of the Chinese medical team, the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, and Chinese enterprises in the country. The event featured Chinese songs, dance, and a variety of games.
