China’s President Xi Jinping has arrived in Zimbabwe, making him the most prominent global leader in many years to visit the country.
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Zimbabwe’s Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the African continent contributed the least greenhouse gasses, but stood to lose the most because of its vulnerability and limited adaptation capacity. Wenlian said the team had a discussion with government and initiated bilateral co-operation.
“Chinese companies have invested in various fields such as finance, telecommunication, energy, manufacturing and agriculture, thus creating more than 100,000 local jobs”, said the envoy.
“We await the visit with very great interest and when he visits us we shall discuss some of the projects and programs we would want China to assist us in undertaking”, said Mugabe.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Zimbabwe has raised hopes among many in the country that China could help stabilize the country’s faltering economy.
Chris Alden and Yu-shan Wu of the SA Institute of International Affairs noted, in an article in The Star a year ago, that the joint agreement between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China’s Hebei Iron and Steel Group to open a steel mill in Phalaborwa, was an important sign of a possible shift in the nature of commerce between South Africa and China.
“We are in close discussions with your embassy in Beijing so we have special economic zones (SEZ) and we are looking towards the implementation of SEZ”, he said.
Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees – who is also former Zimbabwean ambassador to China – Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, said anyone doubting the significance of President Xi’s visit should have their heads examined.
The summit is historic because it is not only the first FOCAC summit on African soil but also a summit that will deepen China-Africa relations in every aspect.
China is South Africa’s largest trading partner.
According to Liu, China has dispatched the largest number of peacekeeping troops in African hotspots while extending significant assistance to help build new schools and hospitals.
Xi’s trip came amid heightened concerns over China’s reduced demand for commodities such as oil, iron ore and copper, leading to a drop of Chinese investment in Africa by 40 per cent in the first half of this year.
The country now has two major power plants, the hydro-electrical 750MW plant in Kariba, completed in 1977 and the thermal 920MW Hwange station commissioned between 1983 and 1987. In recent years, Mugabe accepted $1.5 billion in Chinese loans and made the yuan currency legal tender in an effort to prop up his country’s weak economy.
China also offered to fund the construction of a new parliament building and pledged to donate equipment for the protection of wildlife.
Analysts also said China was soliciting support for its security engagement with the continent.
He said both countries share the same development goal.
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On his arrival at the shrines President Xi inspected the guard of honour before he was given a brief history of the monument.
