GABORONE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's vice president Slumber Tsogwane said Friday the southern African nation was happy with the support the Chinese government has continued to render to its development programs and projects.

Slumber Tsogwane said the support in sectors such as infrastructure development, health and the economy in general was a clear indication of the long-time warm bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tsogwane was speaking when addressing members of the Chinese community living and working in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city.

According to Tsogwane, China has remained one of Botswana's reliable development partners.

"We will forever be appreciative of the assistance we have been getting from China especially in the construction sector," Tsogwane said.

He said Chinese business operators have created the much-needed employment opportunities in Botswana.

Tsogwane also said the Botswana government is working to address some of the bottlenecks bedeviling the country's immigration and home affairs departments.

During her recent visit to China, Botswana's International Affairs and Cooperation Minister Unity Dow spoke highly of the tremendous achievements China has made in its development, saying Botswana stands ready to strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance and administration.

She said Botswana will continue to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields to better benefit the two countries and the two peoples.