Published by the government of Zimbabwe
18 September 2009
Harare — Zimbabwe and China's bilateral relations continue to grow in all facets of life with the former benefiting a lot from the latter's support, a Cabinet minister has said.
Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan Mudenge commended China for supporting Zimbabwe at international forums.
Minister Mudenge was speaking at the University of Zimbabwe on Wednesday at the occasion to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang, and several Chinese and Zimbabwean nationals attended the anniversary.
"The emergence of China as a world economic power house and its evolving role in Zimbabwe has raised intense interest especially among western countries," said Minister Mudenge.
"Myths of cultural invasion and political and economic domination are being peddled in certain interested non-African quarters with a known history of culturally and politically dominating Africa."
The anniversary coincided with the launch of the Confucius Institute website at UZ that was officially unveiled by Minister Mudenge. The website caters for students studying Chinese language and culture.
Minister Mudenge expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for their continued support for Zimbabwe.
"China has continued to provide Zimbabwe with valuable and strategic support. We are all familiar with the diplomatic support Zimbabwe received from China at the UN during very crucial moments in our continued struggle against imperialism," he said.
Turning to the Confucius Institute collaboration with the UZ, Minister Mudenge said the initiative had provided an opportunity for further socio-economic and inter-cultural co-operation.
"The establishment of the Institute fits naturally within the Zimbabwe Government's 'Look East Policy'.
"The Confucius Institute enables Zimbabwe to effectively harness Chinese investment and empower its people to competitively participate in China's booming economy," he said.
Minister Mudenge said UZ had a policy of internationalisation for several decades, but Europe and the US had been the preferences for collaboration and networking.
Ambassador Xin said China had witnessed economic growth due to its opening up to the world.
"Chinese people of all ethnic groups have made concerted and arduous efforts to bring tremendous changes to their motherland which was poor and backward in the past," he said.
"China has witnessed fast economic growth and ever increasing overall national strength. Its people's living standards have been uplifted in an unprecedented manner."
Ambassador Xin said comprehensive progress had been made in the field of science and technology citing the successful launch of manned spacecraft and the educational sector.
Director of Confucius Institute at the UZ, Professor Pedzisai Mashiri said the collaboration had already started paying dividends.
"It's only three years since the institute was established here and we already have six students who have been awarded scholarships through the institute, to pursue studies in different fields," he said.
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