President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia praised China as a true friend of Namibia in an interview with Xinhua in Beijing Monday evening.

China and Namibia enjoy an excellent relationship based on a long-term friendship forged prior to Namibia's independence in 1990 and has been strengthened since then, said Pohamba.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed", Pohamba used a traditional saying to describe the long-term friendship with China.

China stood firm and provided political, material and diplomatic support to Namibian people who struggled for freedom and independence, Pohamba said adding, "China was a true friend of Namibia during our time of serious need."

He appreciates assistance China provided to Namibia as well as other South African countries for their economic development.

"We have worked together closely and will keep working together with China," he said.

Pohamba kicked off his China visit on last Friday in Hainan, China's southernmost island province where he visited a free trade zone and showed great interest in local state-owned farm's irrigation technology.

His current China tour, the first since he assumed his country's presidency in March, also brought him to Chongqing, China's southwestern municipality.

"There are many things to see and to learn," Pohamba said referring to his trip to the two "impressive" cities.

Source: Xinhua