“Actually, when our two Heads of State met in Beijing in August last year and in Jakarta in April this year, President Xi spoke very highly of the traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe and our current bilateral relations”, he said.
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President Xi will join President Mugabe to witness the signing of the agreements that will turn provisions of Government’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, into programmes of action.
President Xi is expected to witness the signing ceremony of the final stages of the deals and agreements of cooperation for implementation to start.
“It’s all systems go and the agreements to be signed will be in the areas of communications, energy, civil aviation, transport, infrastructure, to mention just a few. The summit will not only deepen and upgrade Africa-China relations, but will synergise China-Africa development strategies”, said Independent Media’s executive chairman, Dr Iqbal Survé.
While appreciating the growing relations between China and Africa, the analyst said the two sides should do more to promote these relations, adding that China could play a big role in helping Africa achieve sustained economic development in order to lift thousands of people from abject poverty.
Today China is Zimbabwe’s top source of foreign investment and has helped the country with a number of infrastructure projects.
In an article written by Xi and published in the same paper, the Chinese leader said he was looking forward to “in-depth exchanges of views with Mugabe and friends from all sectors of Zimbabwe during my visit with the aim of enhancing friendship between our two countries, exploring new opportunities for cooperation in all areas and delivering more benefits to our two peoples”.
The first series of the mega deals was signed during President Mugabe’s State visit to the Asian economic giant in August previous year. “The financial value will be disclosed to you at the appropriate time”.
Xi is expected to attend a state banquet hosted by Mugabe and also visit the Heroes Acre memorial site that honours Zimbabwe’s war dead.
Huang hinted that Xi would also announce more assistance to Zimbabwe during the visit. He said Chinese officials were concerned about high-level corruption in Harare, as well as the divisive succession issue within the ruling party as Mugabe reached the sunset of his political career.
Speaking at the China-Zimbabwe business forum at the International Co-operation Centre, national development reform commissioner of China, Cao Wenlian, said the Chinese delegation was coming for the second time to Zimbabwe after visiting the country in June this year.
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On the other hand, President Xi said despite the endless and multifaceted changes in the worldwide landscape, China’s foreign policy would continue in consolidating relations with Zimbabwe and other African nations.
