China, Namibia Agree to Framework Deal on Economic Partnership, ‘Smart Customs’ Cooperation

China and Namibia released a joint statement on July 10, 2026, saying they are willing to establish a “smart customs” cooperation partnership and explore closer cooperation on animal and plant disease prevention, food safety supervision, and inspection and quarantine under the Belt and Road customs food safety cooperation mechanism, according to Jiemian News. The two sides also agreed to align trade and economic cooperation needs, sign a framework agreement on a jointly developed economic partnership, and push for progress in early-harvest outcomes and subsequent module negotiations to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional support for bilateral trade and investment cooperation.