Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma, former President of Namibia, discussed how he views the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as China-Namibia ties in an interview with Beijing Review. This is an edited version of the interview:

Beijing Review: 2021 marks the centenary of the CPC. How do you see the CPC's role in leading the country to realize economic and social progress? 

Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma: Drastic changes have taken place in China and the world since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [in 2012]. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, much headway has been made in economic and social development in China.

Important victories have been achieved in building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, and the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new phase, laying a solid foundation for the fulfillment of the second centenary goal and the dream of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

To sum up, a prominent feature of China's economic development over the past five years is the new normal.

On the one hand, the new normal refers to the slowing of economic growth from the high speed of the past to the current medium-to-high speed. It also refers to structural optimization. With regard to the proportion of investment and consumption, consumption has become a major driving force of economic growth and its contribution has reached over 50 percent in recent years.

Regarding the industrial structure, the agricultural foundations have been improved and the manufacturing sector has been upgraded; meanwhile, the service industry has grown into the largest sector. The upgrading of the manufacturing sector mainly occurred in hi-tech industries, strategic emerging industries and equipment production. Some of these industries have seen rapid growth at a rate near or even above 10 percent. Regarding domestic and overseas demand, the former has assumed a major role in the Chinese economy.

The third characteristic of the new normal is the shift from the old economic driving forces to new ones. In recent years, investment in technological transformation in industrial and manufacturing sectors has grown faster than overall investment. This confirms that the technological transformation has been accelerating.

So, no matter whether you look at it from the perspectives of speed, structural optimization or the transformation of the drivers of growth, you will find that the new normal of China's economic development has more obvious characteristics that support economic development, create more jobs and income, and strengthen the nation's comprehensive power.

Over the past five years, the splendid achievements of the Chinese economy amid the complicated context both at home and abroad owe much to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core and the direction of the Party regarding economic and social development. 

China and Namibia established diplomatic relations on March 22, 1990, just one day after the founding of the Republic of Namibia. How do you view the development of the China-Namibia relations in the past decades? 

China-Namibia relations are a vibrant, two-way dynamic in which both sides adjust to policy initiatives and popular perceptions emanating from the other. China and Namibia have maintained close cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We have established the first high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism between China and Namibia.

Before the national independence of Namibia, China had provided political, moral and material support to the Namibian people in their just struggle for national independence since the early 1960s. I, in my capacity as the then President of Southwest African People's Organization, made visits to China on several occasions.

The China-Namibia relationship was forged during the crucible of the struggle for independence. This relationship has been expanded over the years and has become mutually beneficial.

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