Beijing, China - Oct 15, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Botswana-China High-Level Trade and Investment Forum in progress, attendees
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Duma Gideon Boko, president of Botswana (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3):
"How China has moved so rapidly and it's something that Botswana seeks to emulate and to move as rapidly as China has, in the shortest possible time. This gathering is evidence first, of the extent of the reach, and a genuine desire to take advantage of the opening through zero-tariff approach by the Chinese government to Botswana, and the rest of the African continent."
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3. Attendees at forum
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4. Screen showing forum
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Aubrey Molefi, director, Steadfast Energy (partially overlaid with shot 6):
"I think it's a very immense and significant opportunity for us young entrepreneurs who are looking for investors especially when we're still in the early stages of mining. So it's a great opportunity to find potential investors in our projects."
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6. Attendees at forum
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7. SOUNDBITE (English) entrepreneur (name not given/partially overlaid with shot 8):
"Very exciting, especially after my president gave a speech about the enormous potential and benefits that China and Botswana actually can do. We have a lot of Chinese business companies that have been doing business in Botswana and we are saying the environment is actually very, very good for China now to take it to another level."
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8. Forum in progress
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9. Attendees

Botswana's President Duma Gideon Boko attended a Botswana-China High-Level Trade and Investment Forum in Beijing on Thursday, as the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership during his first state visit to China since taking office.

President Boko is paying a state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, from October 12 to 17.

During the forum, the president met with a number of business representatives from sectors including trade and economy, mining and infrastructure.

"How China has moved so rapidly and it's something that Botswana seeks to emulate and to move as rapidly as China has, in the shortest possible time. This gathering is evidence first, of the extent of the reach, and a genuine desire to take advantage of the opening through zero-tariff approach by the Chinese government to Botswana, and the rest of the African continent," said Boko.

China and Botswana have issued a joint statement on elevating their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In the document, the two sides vow to enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative while expanding collaboration in trade and investment, mining, agriculture, science and technology.

"I think it's a very immense and significant opportunity for us young entrepreneurs who are looking for investors especially when we're still in the early stages of mining. So it's a great opportunity to find potential investors in our projects," said Aubrey Molefi, director of Steadfast Energy.

"Very exciting, especially after my president gave a speech about the enormous potential and benefits and that China and Botswana actually can do. We have a lot of a Chinese business companies that have been doing business in Botswana and we are saying the environment is actually very, very good for China now to take it to another level," said another entrepreneur at the forum.

Last year, the value of China-Botswana trade surpassed 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of more than 20 percent.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Boko's schedule also includes a visit to east China's Fujian Province.