Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) walks hand-in-hand with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe(R)on the Chinese leader’s arrival in Harare where China and Zimbabwe are scheduled to sign various economic deals in agriculture, energy and infrastructure development, on December 1 2015.
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(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi). Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe hold hands upon his arrival in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Several investment deals are set to be signed between the two countries at Zimbabwe’s State House on Tuesday evening and the ceremony will be presided over by Mugabe and his Chinese counterpart.
Xi may have to spend some time on this trip reassuring African leaders that trade relations will remain strong, said Aubrey Hruby, a Washington D.C.-based economist.
China is Zimbabwe’s top foreign investor, injecting 2.7 billion dollars into the country between 2010 and 2013, according to the Zimbabwe Investment Authority.
Beijing Automotive Group Co. will invest as much as 11 billion rand in what could become the biggest auto plant in South Africa, Trade Minister Rob Davies said in an interview after the press conference.
Chinese and South African officials called for more enhanced media cooperation between China and Africa to have a bigger voice in the world and create “win-win” development for both sides.
During the talks, the two heads of state agreed to lift bilateral ties to a new height by fully implementing the 5-10 Years Strategic Plan on Cooperation between the two nations and co-chairing the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
“I’m looking forward to having in-depth exchanges of views with President Mugabe on China-Zimbabwe relations as well as global and regional affairs of common concern”, Xi said in a written statement upon arrival.
This 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. The two countries, Xi said, should be development partners pursuing equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
“Zimbabwe’s economy will not remain the same after Mr. Xi’s visit”, he emphasized.
Zhang Chun, an expert on Africa at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said China had invited South Africa to join the BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil, Russia and India.
South Africa will take advantage of hosting the summit by pushing for progress in existing areas of trade and cooperation between the two nations, and seeking new areas of cooperation, Danish said.
“As for whether China will continue to provide support and aid, there will be no doubt about it”, Zhang said, without divulging details on the aid amount and its objective.
Wang said that China would strengthen cooperation with Africa in fighting terrorism and extremism.
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Zimbabwe has been struggling with its miserable economy characterized by high unemployment rate, mass company closures, layoffs, food shortages and low liquidity.
