President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Namibian President Hage Geingob on 3 April.

Xi described the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 as a major test for the governance capacity of all countries. In handling the outbreak, the Chinese government has followed a people-centered approach, putting people's lives, safety and health front and center. China's hard struggle over the past two months and more is turning the tide of the outbreak on the home front. The enormous efforts and great sacrifices of the Chinese people have boosted confidence, bought time, and offered experience for other countries to battle the virus. Facing this global public health crisis, countries must pull together and fight in solidarity, which is the only way to defeat the outbreak. Xi shared with Geingob the message he sent to the international community at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit a few days ago, i.e. to take swift actions and make a collective response to stem the spread of the virus and to jointly help developing countries with weak public health systems enhance preparedness and response.

Xi noted that China will always remember the invaluable support it received from African countries at the most demanding stage of its outbreak response. He expressed solicitude for the epidemic situation in Africa. Despite its own hardships, China has been actively providing help to the African Union and African countries, sending medical supplies and organizing expert experience-sharing sessions via video link. Chinese companies and non-governmental institutions are also keen to help African countries. Such mutual support is a vivid embodiment of the China-Africa community with a shared future. China will do more to help Namibia and other African countries fight the disease through experience-sharing and closer health cooperation in a bid to prevail over the outbreak together. Xi expressed his confidence in the further deepening of China's friendship with Namibia and other African countries through this joint fight. As the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, China is ready to work with Namibia to continue extending mutual understanding and support to each other, enhance practical cooperation and take China-Namibia and China-Africa relations to a new level.

Geingob underlined that the admirable leadership of President Xi, under which the Chinese people have effectively fought off the outbreak, is highly appreciated in Africa and across the world. He noted that under the good care of the Chinese government, the over 500 Namibian students in China are all safe and sound. He expressed gratitude to China, viewed as the best friend of Namibia and Africa, for giving timely assistance and valuable support to help African countries cope with the outbreak. As close friends, Namibia and China are witnessing the bilateral cooperation going from strength to strength. Namibia hopes to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China between governments, political parties and in all other areas, draw upon China's experience in poverty alleviation, and advance its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.