By Anyway Yotamu and Joyce Mukucha
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says relations with China are on solid ground and what remains is consolidation and deepening of both political and economic relations.
The President was addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with the visiting Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi at State House on Monday 13 January 2020 in Harare.
The meeting was also attended by Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, Foreign Affairs minister, Retired Lieutenant General Sibusiso Moyo, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr Sekai Nzenza and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Mr Yi is very happy with the visit and happy that the two had an occasion to go over the relations between Zimbabwe and China. He will go back home satisfied that the relations are on a solid foundation. What remains is further consolidation and deepening those relations both political and economic.
President Mnangagwa said relations between the two countries were scaled up in September 2018 from all-weather friendship to strategic comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
“As an African country we are happy with what China is doing and we as Zimbabwe we are very happy with relations with China,” President Mnangagwa explained.
The visiting Chinese Foreign Minister has been in the country since Saturday and held bilateral meetings with government officials led by Foreign Affairs Minister Retired Lieutenant General Sibusiso Moyo who expressed the desire to broaden areas of cooperation.
Zimbabwe submitted six new projects to the Chinese minister for the Asian economic giant to consider giving support. The projects were submitted through a ministerial team chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, which was mandated by President Mnangagwa to find ways of mainstreaming the country’s economic cooperation with China.
China is interested in investing in soya-bean, horticulture, beef and other different products such as avocados and citrus fruits.
However Zimbabwe is implementing multi-million dollar projects being funded by Chinese financial institutions such as the construction of new Parliament building in Mount Hampden, the expansion of the Robert Mugabe International airport, the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station, and Kariba Hydro among other key infrastructure projects.
A visit to Zimbabwe by the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister is part of a five-nation tour to Africa that will also take him to Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Burundi.
