Zimbabwe must build on China relations momentum

LAST month, China’s foreign minister Qin Gang undertook a week-long visit to five African countries, underlining a 33 year long tradition of Chinese foreign ministers’ annual first overseas visit. This time he visited which began Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt.

Although Zimbabwe was not part of the visit, the tour was not only significant in its symbolism as an affirmation of strong mutual relationship, but also the fact that the Minister tackled and clarified a number of key issues related to China-Africa during his visit. Coincidentally, a common thread of cooperation activities, technical assistance and bilateral themes run through China’s engagement with African countries.

Zimbabwe has a comprehensive strategic cooperation with China which is growing from strength to strength. China Africa relations, on a wider scale, takes place strategically within frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Belt and Road (BRI) Initiative and lately the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiatives being implemented under President Xi Jinping to enhance multilateral cooperation and a global shared future.

Recap

It is useful to recall some major highlights of the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit, before we discuss the importance to Zimbabwe.

In Gabon, the Foreign Minister met Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba and conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to the Gabonese president, noting that the China-Gabon relations, which were jointly forged by leaders of older generations of the two countries, had withstood the test of time and remained rock solid.

“China and Gabon firmly support each other on issues concerning the core interests and major concerns of the two countries, safeguard the basic norms governing international relations, and uphold international fairness and justice,” highlighted Qin.

“The Chinese side stands ready to work with Gabon to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate mutual strategic trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and elevate China-Gabon comprehensive cooperative partnership to a higher level,” Qin said.

Win then met Angolan President João Lourenço Gang in Luanda as Angola marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. Lourenco said the airports, hydropower stations, roads and ports supported by China were progressing smoothly, “playing an indispensable role in the post-war reconstruction and economic and social development of Angola”.

“Chinese companies have made positive contributions to the improvement of security infrastructure and people’s livelihoods,” Lourenco said.

The same day, Qin was in the Beninese city of Cotonou where he met President Patrice Talon, who said the West African nation “looks forward to learning from China’s experience, deepening and expanding cooperation, and accelerating national development and revitalisation.

“Beijing will encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Benin, Qin said, adding he hoped “that Benin will safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel.”

He rounded up his African when he held talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and discussed Sino-Egyptian ties and boosting Chinese tourism to Egypt, a vital sector and one of the North African country’s major sources of national income.

Qin said Beijing will continue to invest in Egypt’s infrastructure projects, including those linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

China has invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state-run projects including the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the New Administrative Capital, built east of Cairo. The two parties also conferred on regional issues, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Meanwhile, Qing also inaugurated the newly built headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) along with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat and discussed a number of issues including peace and security. Important partner China is Africa’s most important partner.

It has been the continent’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years; total two-way trade in 2021 reached about $254.3 billion, while during the first half of 2022 it was approximately $137.38 billion – a year-on-year increase of approximately 17 percent.

China-African cooperation also extends to an array of fields, ranging from health and education to infrastructure, telecommunications, and technology.

Indeed China has continuously upheld its end of the bargain towards the development of Africa.

Zimbabwe enjoys a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Little doubt, then, that most of the activities China is pursuing in Africa also resonate well with what is taking place bilaterally.

Zimbabwe has benefited a lot from China’s various investments in the economy, infrastructure, health and technology.

From playing a pivotal role in the curbing of Covid 19 to opening a traditional medicine facility at Parirenyatwa, China has continued to prioritise the nation’s health.

Further, China built the country’s parliament house. It is the country’s leading investor as well.

In light of these initiatives, the positive reassurances made by the recent visit by the Foreign Minister require a continued cooperation to align with China’s promotion of international economic cooperation. This is outlined in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an activity formed to support the worldwide organized commerce routine and the open world economy, strengthen assistance among nations along the Belt.