“China and Zimbabwe, in spite of the vast distance between them, have maintained a traditional friendship that is deep and firm”, Xi said in an article in the Herald.
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“During President Robert Mugabe’s visit to China in August 2015, Harare and Beijing penned a series of deals, mostly in the energy, telecommunications and infrastructure sectors”. In addition to China’s mining interests in cash-strapped Zimbabwe, the 12 agreements cover industries such as power and transport, and prevent double taxation for investors, according to the Herald, a state-owned Zimbabwean newspaper.
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.
Some of the deals are at various stages of implementation.
The meeting was organised for China and Zimbabwe business entities to share notes on investments opportunities.
The two also signed an agreement on avoidance of double taxation. The two governments signed 10 agreements, including a $1-billion thermal power expansion project, according to Reuters.
Chinese nationals, waving both Zimbabwean and Chinese flags, were also there to welcome Mr Xi.
“Mugabe will have to do something about it before getting funding from China”.
“It’s very urgent for the developing countries to improve their worldwide communication capability to create a more objective, impartial and balanced global public opinion environment”, said Jiang. President Mugabe chronicled the important role that China played during the Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle by providing military and technical support. Part of its response is to build new nuclear plants that experts say may cost as much as $100 billion.
“It shows that the Chinese government is seeing a brighter future for Zimbabwe and they are showing confidence in the economy”.
“The task we have at hand is to convert our natural resources into wealth for our people”. However, opposition officials dismissed Xi’s visit as a mere “public relations exercise” and said.
Sinohydro Corp won the $1.5 billion bid to add two generation units at Hwange in western Zimbabwe in October a year ago, in the most ambitious move yet to tackle the country’s crippling electricity shortages.
“I am fulfilling that promise”, said President Xi to deafening applause.
President Xi hailed President Mugabe for leading Zimbabwe on a development path and uncompromised stance towards external interference.
He said that the only thing the Chinese brought into their country was ‘unfavorable working conditions.
In the coming days, President Xi will meet with other African leaders in Johannesburg for a forum on Africa-China relations.
“The Chinese don’t know if there is a succession plan in Zimbabwe”, said the Chinese businessman in Harare. “A country that gives you power is a dear friend”, he beamed.
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“Zimbabwe’s economy will not remain the same after Mr. Xi’s visit”, he emphasized.
