HARARE, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) – Chinese President Xi Jinping attached importance to the relations with Zimbabwe, hence he made it one of the two African countries he is visiting this year, and the visit is expected to raise the China-Zimbabwe all-weather friendship to a new high, China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said Friday. And there is far less investment from Beijing into Zimbabwe than into any of its neighbours, such as Zambia, Mozambique and Angola.
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China’s growth in Africa has slowed over the past two years as the weakening Chinese economy demands fewer of Africa’s resources, although overall trade topped $200 billion last year.
It’s the first trip since 1996 that a Chinese leader has taken to the African nation run by President Robert Mugabe.
The two-day summit of the political leadership of Africa and China will deal with the theme “China-Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”.
Xi later told a banquet held in his honour at Zimbabwe’s state house that he held comprehensive talks with Mugabe earlier and the two agreed to strengthen economic cooperation.
With so much financial hardships, many Zimbabweans are hoping that President Xi’s visit isn’t just a symbolic tour but a “serious and sincere” effort to help them change their lives for the better.
China’s engagement with Africa is changing.
Xi travels to South Africa where he will be from Wednesday through Saturday on his second state visit to that country.
“Optimistically dubbed “mega deals” by Zimbabwe’s government press desperate for a fillip, these deals pale into insignificance compared to what China has done, and continues to do, elsewhere on the African continent”.
For years, the consolidation of Sino-African relations has been the cornerstone of China’s diplomacy; never forgetting African brothers reflects the Chinese people’s faith over never forgetting about its past sufferings.
The Chinese president called for a new type of global relationship featuring win-win cooperation when speaking for the first time at the annual UN General Assembly high-level debate on September 28. There, he will attend a forum on cooperation between Africa and China, whose investment on the continent has soared in the past decade.
“It is a historic visit taking place on the eve of the first Focac (Forum for China-Africa Co-operation) summit in Africa”.
“We also invite our Chinese friends to partner with us in championing development in the continent through new business ventures, infrastructure development, media capacity development and many other areas of mutual interest”.
China-Africa trade is under pressure, but that’s a temporary phenomenon induced by plunging commodity prices, China’s Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said at a press briefing last week.
Lusulu officials have said China State Construction Engineering Corp will design and construct the plant, as well as build power lines to transmit the electricity and expects to complete the project in 2019.
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Some observers see competition among China and other world powers, such as the USA, for African resources and African support.
