No-visa agreement ‘mutually beneficial’

China’s ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, says Namibia’s proposed visa exemption for Chinese nationals is a bilateral agreement that would benefit both countries.

This comes after the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Albert Kawana, proposed a visa exemption for Chinese nationals arriving in Namibia for a period of 30 days.

Kawana’s proposal is included in a letter dated 22 May addressed to the minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation.

BILATERAL MEANS EVERYONE

“If you want to visit China, no visa is required once we have signed this agreement,” Zhao told the media in Windhoek on Wednesday.

“The relevant discussion on this matter started in June 2019 between our two countries during a visit to Namibia by the commissioner of the Chinese National Immigration Administration, and both sides agreed to pursue active consultation,” he said.

Zhao said consultations, however, stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and there was no rush.

According to Zhao, China signed a mutual visa exemption agreement with 152 countries in February, of which 134 countries grant mutual visa exemption for diplomatic or official passport holders.

“China has a mutual visa exemption agreement with 18 countries. In addition, there are 17 countries with a unilateral visa exemption for all Chinese citizens, and other 40 countries are granting Chinese citizens a landing visa,” he said.

‘INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS’

Zhao said some remarks made by politicians on the matter are inappropriate and should not come from responsible individuals.

“Maybe they want to use this matter to serve their political purposes, or maybe they just want to mislead the public.

“Let me remind you that more and more countries have expressed their willingness to sign mutual visa exemption agreements with China,” he said.

“If this agreement is finally signed by both sides it will encourage more Chinese tourists to choose Namibia as their destination, and it will be convenient for Namibians to visit China,” he said.

Weiping said the agreement, if signed, would benefit both countries and discussions are transparent.

‘NO NEOCOLONIALISM’

According to Zhao, China never imposes its will on African countries.

“We are friends – whether in the past, present, or future. Never believe those saying China is pursuing so-called neocolonialism in Africa. It is not true at all.

“China and African countries have always been supporting and helping each other politically, economically and diplomatically. It is a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said.

“We proposed the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilisation initiative.

These concepts or actions may not have pleased some countries, but there is nothing to blame ourselves,” he said.

‘HOODWINKING’

Official opposition leader McHenry Venaani earlier said his party vehemently rejects the move.

He said the country’s visa regime should be governed by the benefits Namibia would accrue from China, such as tourists who would spend money.

“It is just another hoodwinking process for Chinese prisoners to come here,” he says.

Aspiring presidential candidate Job Amupanda opposed the proposal on social media over the past weekend.

He claimed Namibian politicians and executive directors have been “successfully bought by the Chinese.”

Amupanda also alleged the agreement involves a deal between the ruling party and China to garner support for next year’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

“It is planned for Chinese unemployed, criminals, [the] uneducated and rejects to come to our country to work on tenders the Chinese will get from the corrupt regime,” Amupanda wrote.

Kawana recently told The Namibian the proposal’s main goal is to attract tourists and to help the country become competitive again after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Before Covid-19, we used to receive 22 000 Chinese tourists per year. That number has completely dried up after Covid-19,” Kawana said.

“Check what Zambia did. They have removed visa restrictions to attract tourists,” he added.

Kawana said he was surprised about the objections to the proposal, considering it could be a win-win arrangement with Beijing which would benefit Namibians who want to buy goods in China.