Premier Li Keqiang met with with visiting Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob in the southern Chinese city of Sanya on April 9, eyeing more Chinese investment in Namibia.

“China encourages its enterprises to actively take part in Namibia’s infrastructure construction, and conduct cooperation in investment,” Li said.

China hopes Namibian authorities can approve a bilateral agreement on investment protection, which was signed in 2005, as soon as possible, Li said, urging the two countries to deepen exchanges in experience of governing a country and look for new areas in which to grow bilateral cooperation.

Li, who will deliver a speech on April 10 at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum of Asia annual conference in Boao, east of Sanya, noted that Namibia is the only African country to attend the forum, and therefore must represent the important force of rising Africa.

Geingob said Namibia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the southwest African country, and applauded the current cooperation.

Labelling China an “all-weather” friend, Geingob said he was convinced Li’s upcoming Africa visit will lift China-Africa ties to a new high.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperative documents covering issues including the economy, technology, infrastructure construction, mining and personnel training after the talks.

State Councilor Yang Jing also attended the talks.