PRESS RELEASE – STATEMENT ON THE REPORTED MISTREATMENT OF AFRICAN NATIONALS IN CHINA
GABORONE, 13th April 2020: The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, wishes to inform the general public that following reports of mistreatment of African nationals in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, the Ministry has through the Botswana Embassy in China been in touch with Batswana residing in that city.
In an effort to establish the veracity of these reports, and to appreciate the policy stand of the Chinese Government on the matter, the African Group of Ambassadors in China, including the Ambassador of Botswana, had a consultative meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on 13th April 2020. The meeting provided the necessary platform for the African Group of Ambassadors to present their concerns on reported incidents of mistreatment of Africans in the city of Guangzhou.
We note with appreciation that following this engagement, the Government of the People’s Republic of China made an undertaking to address the reported concerns of the African nationals in the city of Guangzhou.
It is our considered view that the Chinese Government will find an immediate remedial action within the context of China and Africa’s excellent longstanding relations and cooperation.
It should be noted that in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the city of Guangzhou, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is enforcing quarantine measures and testing. We are confident that the Botswana nationals who reside in Guangzhou will fully comply with the quarantine and testing procedures instituted by the Chinese Government.
Botswana remains confident that China will continue to tackle this pandemic in line with her foreign policy principles of solidarity, tolerance, non-racialism, nondiscrimination and compassion.
