The Herald (Harare)

Zimbabwe: Mutambara Hails Sino-Zim Relations

  • Comment (15)

Harare — ACTING Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has hailed relations between Zimbabwe and China and thanked the Asian nation for supporting the country during difficult times.

After meeting outgoing Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Yuan Nansheng at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare yesterday Acting PM Mutambara said Zimbabwe had a lot to learn from China.

He said relations between China and Zimbabwe dated back to the days of the liberation struggle.

"In the last years when we had difficulties, China was an all-weather friend. We are here to celebrate great relations between the State of Zimbabwe and the State of China," he said.

The acting PM said relations between Zimbabwe and China continued to grow even after the formation of the inclusive Government.

But he said there was need to expand the relations to manufacturing and processing of minerals through partnerships between Chinese and local companies.

Mr Xin Shunkang replaces Mr Nansheng and is expected in the country in September.

Addressing a media conference earlier, Mr Nansheng described his two-and-a-half year stay in Zimbabwe as commendable, saying the country was his second home.

He said Sino-Zimbabwe relations had developed soundly and smoothly during his tenure and hoped China would continue to help Zimbabwe realise its full potential.

Ambassador Nansheng said since the formation of the inclusive Government early this year, Zimbabwe's image had grown, resulting in business people from a number of countries expressing interest in investing in the country.

"At the time I am leaving Zimbabwe, I am deeply convinced that the friendly relations and co-operation between China and Zimbabwe will never change, the care action (a programme to assist HIV-infected orphans and the physically challenged) will never stop and my special sentiment on Zimbabwe will never end.

"I wish Zimbabweans will be able to overcome their challenges and move ahead to a brighter future. The situation looks bright for the country, especially now that the situation has stabilised, inflation gone and the image (of the country) is improving," he said.

Ambassador Nansheng said the excellent historical relations between China and Zimbabwe had made his stay and work in this country a lot easier.

He said Chinese businesspeople were inquiring about prospects of doing business in Zimbabwe.

The ambassador said his country would continue to come up with policies that enabled easy investment in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe and China have cooperated in areas of agriculture technology, information and communication technology, tourism and manufacturing.

Under the "Eight Measures of Assisting Africa" China has donated an agriculture technology demonstration centre, built a hospital and two primary schools.

"These projects have entered the final stage of preparations and are going to be launched or finished in the near future," said Ambassador Nansheng. "This month, 10 Chinese agriculture experts will arrive in Zimbabwe to start farming experiments at the ATDC and help local people with advanced agricultural technology."

Ambassador Nansheng said China had provided more than 1 000 human resources training opportunities for Zimbabwe and has since opened a Chinese language centre at the University of Zimbabwe to improve cultural relations between the two countries. China recently provided US$5 million cash and food worth the same amount.


Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments Post a comment

  • mrzyphl
    Jun 24 2009, 09:34

    WOW! $5 million in cash and food aid! How generous considering that China only has a $2 trillion economic surplus. The US paltry $75 million doesn't even come close to the massive amount of $5 million. The US must reconsider and match China dollar for dollar!

    We must praise The Herald on their impartial reporting!

    Idiots.

  • richerson88
    Jun 24 2009, 11:13

    Unlike the capitalist pigs of what some call "the West," who pound their chests whenever they 'donate' monies to African countries, the Chinese, victims of INVADER IMPERIALISM, do not, given the value of modesty in their cultural world, trumpet their generosity, contrary to the ethos of what some call the West, and I call INVADERLANDS.

    But, Zimbabweans, a proud people, who bulldozed the rhodist, reactionary dictatorship of Ian Smith, a terrorist and xenophobe par excellence, are not beggars.

    In time, and in short order, Zimbabwe will rise, next to South Africa and Nigeria and deliver Africa from the paws of the capitalist pigs of INVADERLANDS, deliver her from their "derivatives," "credit swap defaults," 'theories' of 'development', and other tools of plain thievery.

    In time, this will come to pass, for the giant of the East, China, a creditor of the West, is now in the game, and having suffered from the barbarism of INVADERS, may have a better understanding of Africa.

    Not even Obama, whose administration, owes the Chinese trillions of dollars, would dare challenge China or, use a mal mot, characteristic of rhodists, against the Chinese.

    After all, the capitalist pigs know who butters their bread, and that whoever has the gold rules.

  • takunya_ndebvu
    Jun 24 2009, 13:26

    This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

  • emily_sorensen
    Jun 24 2009, 11:38

    This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

  • richerson88
    Jun 24 2009, 15:30

    This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

See All Comments