Namibia, China deepen ties with deals on infrastructure, energy and mining.

By Jerry  Published On July 13, 2026

China and Namibia signed a series of agreements on Friday to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, energy, mining and agriculture, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sought investment to support economic diversification and job creation in the southern African nation.

The agreements were signed during Nandi-Ndaitwah’s seven-day state visit to China, her first official visit outside Africa since taking office in 2025. During talks in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to deepen cooperation across key sectors of Namibia’s economy.

“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 quoted Xi as saying.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said her decision to make China her first state visit beyond Africa reflected the importance Namibia places on its longstanding relationship with Beijing.

The two countries signed eight cooperation documents, including agreements covering green minerals and a framework for broader economic partnership.

According to a joint statement, both governments agreed to strengthen cooperation in the development of critical minerals, including uranium, lithium and rare earth elements, while promoting local mineral processing, technology transfer and skills development.

Namibia is seeking to attract greater foreign investment as it works to diversify its economy beyond mining and address persistent unemployment and inequality.

The resource-rich country is emerging as one of Africa’s most promising energy frontiers following major offshore oil discoveries by Shell and TotalEnergies. Industry analysts estimate Namibia could become Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer by 2030 if planned projects proceed.

The country is also one of the world’s leading uranium producers and has attracted growing international interest in its deposits of lithium and rare earth minerals, which are essential for batteries, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.

China is already Namibia’s largest export market, purchasing around one-quarter of the country’s exports, according to the International Monetary Fund. Uranium accounted for approximately 85 percent of Namibia’s exports to China last year.

Data from the American Enterprise Institute show Chinese companies have invested about US$4.2 billion in Namibia, with nearly all of that investment concentrated in the country’s metals and mining sector.

During her inauguration, Nandi-Ndaitwah pledged to pursue a “green revolution” by expanding agriculture, improving water resource management and promoting value addition across the economy.

Source: africabusinessinsight


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