Chinese defence minister in Namibia

Defense Minister Chang Wanquan with Namibia's President Hage Geingob in Windhoek, Namibia, March 30, 2015. (photo Xinhua - Wu Changwei)

01 April 2015 by defenceWeb

China’s defence minister Chang Wanquan has visited Namibia, where he announced the donation of N$58 million worth of military equipment to the Namibian government.

Wanquan was accompanied by a delegation comprising 15 army, navy and air force officials. He said the decision to donate the equipment is part of an effort to improve defence cooperation with Namibia.

Wanquan said suggestions that China plans to establish a naval base in Namibia were just rumours and that rumours “can destroy a country”.

Namibian President Hage Geingob met Wanquan in the capital Windhoek on 30 March, saying the two countries are “all-weather” partners with solid cooperation in political, economic and military affairs.

Namibia is willing to make joint efforts with China to push forward state and military relations between the two countries and the two militaries, Geingob told his Chinese guest, Xinhua reports.

Also on Monday, Wanquan visited Sam Nujoma, the founding president of Namibia, and held talks with his Namibian counterpart.

Last week Wanquan visited Zimbabwe as part of a goodwill visit to Namibia and Zimbabwe.