Chinese leader Xi Jinping in state visit to Zimbabwe
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) walks hand-in-hand with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on the Chinese leader's arrival in Harare where China and Zimbabwe are scheduled to sign various economic deals in agriculture, energy and infrastructure development, on Tuesday December 1, 2015. PHOTO | JEKESAI NJIKIZANA
What you need to know:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived on Tuesday for a state visit to Zimbabwe aimed at further cementing the traditional friendship between the two countries
- During his stay in Harare, Mr Xi will hold talks with Mr Mugabe and the two sides are expected to ink a series of cooperation deals covering such fields as infrastructure construction, investment, financing, culture and wildlife protection.
- Over the past 35 years since they established diplomatic ties in 1980, the two countries have stood with each other rain or shine, and enjoyed fruitful cooperation in politics, economy, culture and other fields.
HARARE, Tuesday
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived on Tuesday for a state visit to Zimbabwe aimed at further cementing the traditional friendship between the two countries and charting the course for the future development of bilateral ties.
The trip, which comes upon the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-Zimbabwe diplomatic relations, is Mr Xi’s first to the African country and also the first state visit by a Chinese president to Zimbabwe since 1996.
Mr Xi, together with his wife Peng Liyuan, was warmly welcomed by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Mugabe’s wife Grace Mugabe and high-ranking officials with a 21-gun salute at the Harare International Airport.
COOPERATION DEALS
During his stay in Harare, Mr Xi will hold talks with Mr Mugabe, who is revered as an old friend of the Chinese people, and the two sides are expected to ink a series of cooperation deals covering such fields as infrastructure construction, investment, financing, culture and wildlife protection.
“I’m looking forward to having in-depth exchanges of views with President Mugabe on China-Zimbabwe relations as well as global and regional affairs of common concern,” Mr Xi said in a written statement upon arrival, adding that he believes his visit will strongly push forward the two countries’ cooperation in various fields.
TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP
The traditional friendship forged by Mugabe and past generations of Chinese leaders is a precious wealth shared by both countries, he said, calling Zimbabwe an “all-weather friend” of China.
Over the past 35 years since they established diplomatic ties in 1980, the two countries have stood with each other rain or shine, and enjoyed fruitful cooperation in politics, economy, culture and other fields, said the Chinese president, adding that he is glad to see that the agreement reached during Mugabe’s state visit to China last year has been implemented in an effective way.
China highly appreciates the important role Mr Mugabe has played in safeguarding African unity and promoting development of the continent as the rotating chairman of the African Union, said Mr Xi.
