Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met his Zimbabwean counterpart Frederick Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, in Beijing on May 29, 2023. Shava was visiting China on Qin’s invitation.
Qin Gang said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations more than 40 years ago, no matter how the international landscape evolves, the traditional friendship between the two countries has always been rock-solid, and the two countries have been good brothers and good partners that trust and support each other.
Zimbabwe and China established diplomatic relations on the day that the southern African country achieved its independence. China had been the main international supporter and backer of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), whose liberation fighters, organized in the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), played the main role in liberating the country.
Qin Gang pointed out that China will, as always, firmly support Zimbabwe in opposing external interference and sanctions, and in taking a development path suited to its national conditions. Imperialist powers, led by the United States and Britain, have placed crippling sanctions on Zimbabwe, since the country embarked on a radical land reform to benefit primarily the masses of rural poor, the main victims of settler colonialism.
Shava said that Zimbabwe-China relations have withstood the test of time and the level of friendly cooperation has been greatly improved. Zimbabwe stands ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and continuously bring the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Zimbabwe and China to new levels.
The following article originally appeared on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On May 29, 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Frederick Shava in Beijing.
Qin Gang said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations more than 40 years ago, no matter how the international landscape evolves, the traditional friendship between the two countries has always been rock-solid, and the two countries have been good brothers and good partners that trust and support each other. China stands ready to work with Zimbabwe to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, and continuously strive for new and greater development of China-Zimbabwe relations.
Qin Gang pointed out that China will, as always, firmly support Zimbabwe in opposing external interference and sanctions, and in taking a development path suited to its national conditions. China is ready to deepen exchanges of experience in state governance with Zimbabwe, enhance synergies in development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implement all cooperation measures with Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China will tap the potential for cooperation with Zimbabwe in such fields as investment, trade, energy and mineral resources, clean energy and human resources development, and upgrade bilateral cooperation. China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Zimbabwe. China is ready to work closely with Zimbabwe in international cooperation to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
Shava said that Zimbabwe-China relations have withstood the test of time and the level of friendly cooperation has been greatly improved. Zimbabwe firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” formulated by China, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China. Zimbabwe appreciated China’s strong support to the country in its poverty reduction and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Zimbabwe stands ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen cooperation within the framework of the FOCAC, and continuously bring the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Zimbabwe and China to new levels.
