Namibia has signed a series of agreements with China covering infrastructure, mining, energy, agriculture and trade during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to Beijing.
The Southern African country is seeking fresh investment to accelerate economic diversification and create jobs.
The agreements were reached during talks between President Nandi-Ndaitwah and Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the Namibian leader’s first state visit outside Africa since taking office earlier this year.
Xi described the relationship between the two countries as longstanding and pledged to deepen cooperation across strategic sectors, while Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to strengthening ties with Beijing.
The two countries signed eight cooperation agreements spanning energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, agriculture and broader economic development. Both governments also agreed to strengthen collaboration in the processing of strategic minerals, including uranium, lithium and rare earth elements, with a focus on local value addition, technology transfer and skills development rather than exporting raw materials.
China remains Namibia’s largest trading partner and one of its biggest sources of foreign investment. Chinese companies have invested about $4.2 billion in Namibia, with most of the capital directed toward mining and metals projects. China also purchases about a quarter of Namibia’s exports, led primarily by uranium, highlighting the strategic importance of the country’s mineral resources to Beijing’s industrial and energy ambitions.
The agreements come as Namibia positions itself to become one of Africa’s leading energy producers following major offshore oil discoveries by Shell and TotalEnergies. The country is estimated to hold about 2.6 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, with commercial production expected before the end of the decade. The emerging petroleum sector is expected to complement Namibia’s established mining industry and provide a significant boost to economic growth.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has made economic diversification and job creation central to her administration’s agenda. Her government is seeking greater investment in agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and mineral processing to reduce dependence on commodity exports while creating more employment opportunities for Namibia’s growing population. The International Monetary Fund has also urged the country to pursue structural reforms that expand economic activity beyond mining.
For China, the agreements reinforce its strategy of securing long-term access to critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Namibia’s abundant reserves of uranium, lithium and rare earth minerals make it an increasingly important partner as Beijing seeks to strengthen supply chains for the global energy transition.
The latest agreements underscore the deepening economic relationship between the two countries at a time when Namibia is emerging as one of Africa’s most promising investment destinations. By expanding cooperation across infrastructure, mining and energy, both governments hope to unlock new investment opportunities, strengthen bilateral trade and position Namibia for faster long-term economic growth.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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