The relationship between China and Africa is a partnership that is aligned to Africa’s development goals and not merely based on just trade, South African Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, has said.
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China’s importance to Zimbabwe’s economy has grown over the past 10 years, with trade between the two countries doubling to $1,2 billion between 2010 and 2014.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, the first visit by a Chinese leader since 1996, amid expectations this would lead to the signing of infrastructure funding and investment agreements. “I hope the media of both sides can use the opportunity of this summit to have more broadened and in-depth cooperation to promote the friendship of China and Africa”. “As a trade union or as workers, we have not seen much from our Chinese colleagues”, he said. The new approach to Africa – a major hot spot for Chinese investment – could illustrate how China tries to strike that balance globally as its business interests expand.
“China has earnestly fulfilled the worldwide obligations and actively participated in global cooperation in wildlife protection”, Xi said.
China is Africa’s largest trading partner, having developed a mutual, sound and vibrant partnership with trade volume between them increasing exponentially over the past decade.
While China’s goal is to realise the dream of great national rejuvenation, Zimbabwe’s is to achieve economic independence and self-reliant, sustainable development, Xi said in the article.
Zuma also expressed his support for China’s hosting of the G20 summit, which will take place in the eastern city of Hangzhou on September 4-5 next year.
While Beijing has traditionally maintained a policy of non-interference, staying out of Africa’s political affairs, its decision to establish a permanent representative at the African Union’s headquarters in Ethiopia may signal stronger political interaction, the South African Institute of International Affairs said.
Before the visit, Mugabe said he highly expected this visit to bring more co-operation projects and exchange programs, which he said would help with the economic independence of Zimbabwe, which has long suffered from inflation and sanctions.
Most of the buildings which make up the well-equipped orphanage were financed by a South African businessman known as Jack Ping, before he and Zimbabwe’s first lady fell out over a mining deal.
The summit, which will gather leaders from across Africa, comes amid growing African concern over the impact of the Chinese economic slowdown.
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“Such initiatives are a clear departure from Beijing’s aversion to military or security intervention in Africa”, said Mr Lyle Morris, a project associate at RAND Corp, citing in particular the military assistance Mr Xi pledged in September.
