To kickstart a fully packed programme, Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Advocate J.F.N Mudenda, who is leading a parliamentary delegation on a bilateral visit to China, embarked on an enriching itinerary, visiting iconic institutions that showcase China’s rich history, innovative prowess, and political landscape.
Speaker Mudenda visited the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the Ant Group technology company as well as the Museum of the Communist Party of China, together with his delegation comprising Hon. Webster Shamu, Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Members of the same Committee, namely, Hon. Labanny Munemo, Hon. Auxilia Dhanzi, Hon. Basilia Majaya and Hon. Jabulani Hadebe.
The day commenced with a visit to the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 – 1911). The Speaker and his delegation marveled at the stunning architecture, intricate designs, and historical significance of the palace, which served as the residence of Chinese emperors for over 500 years.
Constructed between 1406 and 1420, during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors and their families and acted as the ceremonial and political center of ancient Chinese government throughout the 500 years. After the Last Emperor of China left the palace, it later became a museum open to the public in 1925. Since then, the Forbidden City is no longer ‘forbidden’. Currently, ordinary people can take a trip in real-time to see the secrets and luxury of imperial life, Speaker Mudenda and the delegation were informed.
The Palace is replete with ancient murals, traditional manuscripts, historical engravings, and various primordial artifacts showcasing the rich cultural heritage and civilization of the Chinese people. With its vast collection of artworks and artifacts, the Forbidden City exemplifies China’s rich historical heritage and architectural excellence. Since 1925, the Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose vast holdings of paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and antiquities of the imperial collections make it one of the most prestigious museums in China and the world. Subsequently, Speaker Mudenda expressed admiration for the heritage preservation efforts that ensure this cultural treasure remains accessible for future generations.
Following the cultural excursion, Speaker Mudenda and the delegation visited the Ant Group, a leader in digital finance and technology innovation. The Ant Group is renowned for its pioneering work in mobile payments and financial services, which have transformed the economic landscape in China and beyond. Ant Group traces its roots back to Alipay, which was established in 2004 to create trust between online sellers and buyers.
Ant Group is China’s biggest payments provider, the delegation was informed, with more than 730 million monthly users on its digital payments service, Alipay. Formally known as Ant Financial, Ant Group is an affiliate company of the Chinese Alibaba Group and was set up in 2014. The group owns one of China’s largest digital payment platforms Alipay, founded in 2004, which serves close to one billion users.
Ant Group was formed not only to serve as the parent company to Alipay but also to other financial services such as loan facilitation and asset management. Over the years, Ant Group has grown to become one of the world’s leading open Internet platforms. During his visit, Speaker Mudenda, himself a leading proponent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the legislative sphere, expressed deep interest in the Ant Group innovations and their implications for economic and legislative development, emphasizing the central role of technology in fostering financial inclusion, as well as maximizing AI in the workplace such as parliamentary administration.
Thereafter, Speaker Mudenda’s delegation toured the avowed Museum of the Communist Party of China, a colosseum that chronicles the rich history and development of the Chinese Communist Party since its founding in 1921. The museum was officially opened by China’s President, His Excellency Xi Jinping in 2021, paying tribute to the CPC’s centenary history, 1921-2021.
Speaker Mudenda and his delegation gained a deeper understanding of China’s governance model, political ideology, and the Party’s role in shaping the country’s progress which chronicles the history and socio-economic achievements of the Communist Party. The museum is indeed a well-thought-out exhibition of rich historical documentation, artifacts, and multimedia exhibits that reflect the Party’s history as well as its role in shaping contemporary China.
More than 2,600 pictures and 3,500 pieces or sets of exhibits are on display, among the items is the manuscript of Karl Marx’s notes from Brussels, as well as sculptures of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, enduring figures who influenced Chinese communist ideology. An insight into the struggle for independence against various colonizing forces is gained, typified by the long march which finally tested the resolve of the Chinese freedom fighters who ultimately demonstrated rugged tenacity in the face of adversity, eternally reminding future generations that each epoch must forge its own long march, a deep ideological refrain in the end.
Speaker Mudenda acknowledged the significance of understanding the historical context that has influenced China’s current political and social development ecosystem anchored on the zeal to eradicate poverty and inequality among the Chinese citizenry.
Meeting with Host Speaker, H.E. Zhao Leji.
Hon. Speaker Mudenda’s delegation interfaced with the Host Speaker, H.E. Zhao Leji, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC). The Chairman was joined by the Chairpersons of the following Committees:
- Committee on Foreign Affairs;
- Committee on Environment and Resources Protection;
- Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs; and
- Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.
Also in attendance was the Vice-Chairperson of the NPC, the Secretary General as well as the Deputy Secretary General of the NPC.
The two Speakers had candid discussions on wide-ranging issues of mutual interest, including, strengthening bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China in general and between the two legislatures in particular, current global geopolitics, and sharing experiences on Parliamentary processes.
His Excellency Leji extended a warm welcome to the delegation. From the outset, he acknowledged the existing excellent fraternal relations between Zimbabwe and China, whose strategic partnership was forged during the struggle for independence and has stood the test of time. As Zimbabwe and China celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations, the Chairman noted, that it was befitting that His Excellency, the President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa and His Excellency Xi Jinping had announced the “five-star ironclad” cooperation framework which will guide accelerated and mutually beneficial socio-economic metrics in the spirit of multilateralism and international cooperation.
Hon. Speaker Mudenda extended his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to the delegation. He concurred on the existing excellent fraternal bilateral relations which he described as extremely superlative.
Additionally, he expressed appreciation to the two Presidents of Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China for clearly articulating the strategic “five-star ironclad” cooperation framework which will undoubtedly accentuate economic relations between the two sisterly Republics. Furthermore, Hon. Speaker Mudenda expressed gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for the political, material, and military support extended to Zimbabwe’s liberation fighters during the struggle against the white settler regime.
Notably, His Excellency, the President, Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangwagwa and pioneering freedom fighters received military training in China in the early 1960s. Speaker Mudenda described China as an all-weather friend to Zimbabwe, providing support in various sectors of the economy as well as infrastructural development post-independence.
To that an extent, China had funded the construction of the magnificent New Parliament building whose impressive architectural design is second to none in Africa and compares favorably globally, he opined.
Additionally, China provided significant resources towards the rehabilitation and expansion of both the Robert Mugabe International Airport and the Victoria Falls International Airport. In furtherance of this distinctive friendship, Speaker Mudenda highlighted that China has also been dependable by importing tobacco, contributing substantially to the expansion of the Hwange 7 and 8 power stations and Kariba South expansion projects, among others.
Accordingly, Speaker Mudenda invited China to support people-to-people relations through engaging in tourism. Relatedly, he suggested the possibility of engaging on direct flights between the two sisterly Republics to enhance people-to-people interface.
Another area of cooperation is cultural exchange. Notably, strides have been made through partnership with the oldest University in Zimbabwe, the University of Zimbabwe which currently offers Mandarin as a foreign language, Speaker Mudenda noted.
The Hon. Speaker identified possible areas of cooperation, namely value addition and beneficiation of tobacco as well as further cooperation on the investment in renewable energy given that it is a critical cog in Zimbabwe’s industrialization Agenda.
Speaker Mudenda, however, lamented the low levels of bilateral Parliamentary engagements despite the notable progress made at governmental levels. To ameliorate the foregoing, Speaker Mudenda was confident that his visit to China would accelerate Parliamentary exchanges at not only the Presiding Officers’ level but cascading down to the Parliamentary Committees as well as capacity building for Parliamentary Staff.
Accordingly, he informed his counterpart that Zimbabwe has established a Zimbabwe- China Parliamentary Friendship Association to guide future Parliamentary interactions between the two legislatures. His Excellency Legi welcomed the proposed Parliamentary exchanges wherein he gracefully accepted to undertake a reciprocal visit to Zimbabwe on mutually agreeable dates in the future.
In the spirit of sharing Parliamentary sound practices, Speaker Mudenda requested his counterpart to share how Parliament had contributed to stimulating the economic growth in China. In response, the Chairman indicated that China had established five special economic zones which were supported by appropriate legislation that stimulated foreign investments. He underscored the need for legislation that protects property rights in order to attract foreign investors.
Hon. Speaker Mudenda underlined that the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe protects property rights. It was agreed that the Chinese side would share their legislation pieces which will be juxtaposed against existing legislation in Zimbabwe for possible extrapolation into Zimbabwe’s economically related municipal laws.
On the international fora, Speaker Mudenda congratulated His Excellency, President Xi Jinping, and His Excellency, President Donald Trump for coming to an understanding regarding the trade tariffs that were negatively affecting the global community economically. He opined that a balanced trade ecosystem would be beneficial globally. In response, the Chairman noted that while the United States has self-serving interests, China does not seek trouble but will not hesitate to act to defend itself in a bid to enforce fairness and justice in trade tariffs.
The discussions between the United States of America and China ultimately led to the slashing of additional tariffs and the establishment of a consultation mechanism. The global market has since responded positively to these outcomes. However, His Excellency Leji pointed out that discussions are still ongoing and urged the United States to negotiate in good faith anchored on the principles of mutual respect and equality for a desired world trade order.
Subsequently, Speaker Mudenda called for the international community to respect the UN Charter, particularly Article Two which speaks to the equality of Nations as the anchor of multilateralism. He posited that the United States of America’s contestations with China rests on the enormous socio-economic development of China which had achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the second largest economy in the world as driven by its BELT AND ROAD initiative.
Turning to the positive establishment of BRICS, Speaker Mudenda called for its strengthening by opening up to States like Zimbabwe in order to change the balance of economic scales between the Global North and the Global South. In response, the Congress Chairman welcomed Zimbabwe’s interest in joining BRICS which he described as an organization committed to upholding multilateralism based on core principles of justice and equality. Accordingly, Zimbabwe was welcomed to join BRICS.
In reaffirming China’s commitment to strengthening the existing excellent relations between China and Zimbabwe, His Excellency Chairman Leji shared his perspectives on strategic initiatives that can be employed as follows:
- Deepen practical cooperation. The Chairman was satisfied with the progress on infrastructural development given that major projects are currently underway in Zimbabwe.
- Delivering on the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit on cooperation in areas that include investment, trade, energy and mining development. In this context, China will continue to support projects that improve the livelihoods of citizens such as drilling boreholes and provision of solar energy.
- China will continue supporting the calls for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
- Additionally, China will advance global security initiatives and would on that score support Zimbabwe’s candidature for the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
- China will remain a strategic health partner in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, China will explore more areas of cooperation in women and youth initiatives, agriculture and tourism.
In expressing gratitude for the support Zimbabwe currently receives from China, Hon. Speaker Mudenda appealed for collaboration and exchanges between tertiary institutions as well as exploring cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry. Speaker Mudenda reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s support of the FOCAC outcomes. Furthermore, he appreciated the work ethics of China’s workforce deployed to Zimbabwe.
The two Speakers of Parliament exchanged gifts that were deeply significant for the two sides.
Ultimately, a dinner was held in honour of the visiting delegation at the Great Hall of the People.
