Ambassador Fan Yong presents Letters of Credence to Foreign Minister Dr Lemogang Kwape
On August 6, 2024, His Excellency Fan Yong, the newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Botswana, arrived in Gaborone to assume office.
He was warmly received by Mr. Emmanuel Pheko, Protocol Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Botswana and diplomats from the Chinese Embassy at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Ambassador Fan Yong said he is honoured to be Chinese Ambassador to Botswana. China and Botswana enjoy profound traditional friendship. He is looking forward to working with the Botswana side to promote new accomplishments in China-Botswana relations to better benefit our two countries and peoples.
On behalf of the Botswana side, Mr. Pheko accorded Ambassador Fan warm welcome for assuming office, and said the Botswana side will facilitate and support Ambassador Fan in the performance of his duty. Ambassador Fan Yong is the sixteenth Chinese Ambassador to Botswana.
He succeeds Ambassador Wang Xuefeng who left early this year after a successful tour of duty.
On August 8, 2024, H.E. Mr. Fan Yong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Botswana and presented the copy of the Letter of Credence.
Ambassador Fan said that it is a great honor to be appointed by H.E. President Xi Jinping as Chinese Ambassador to Botswana. He thanked Foreign Minister Kwape for the facilitation for the arrangement, which fully reflects that the Botswana side attaches great importance to our bilateral relations. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Botswana, he said, adding that China is willing to work with Botswana to achieve new contributions to the development of bilateral relations.
Minister Kwape warmly welcomed Ambassador Fan to his new post, saying that Botswana and China have enjoyed cordial friendship for long time. During the past 50 years, China has provided Botswana with selfless assistance, for which Botswana highly appreciates.
Kwape stressed that Botswana always adheres to the One-China principle. The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) is just around the corner, and Botswana looks forward to working closely with China to upgrade bilateral relations to a new level.
