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Zimbabwe has established strong economic and bilateral ties with China dating back to the days of the liberation struggle.
Some of the key speakers who were lined up included Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu.
Former Zimbabwe Ambassador to China Christopher Mutsvangwa said the absence of the Chinese could be an indication that the trade fair was not valuable to them.
“Maybe the Chinese did not see value in coming here because they do not have much to learn and benefit from us. Rather we are the ones who need to engage them in our business deals,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans were the ones who are supposed to visit China and not the other way round.
He said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) should take into consideration the real financial facts and take advantage of the Look East Policy.
“Our central bank is given more to gimmicks than to real financial facts. It should orientate itself to global commerce. There is need to develop the Look East Policy and include major institutions in the country like the central bank,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said it was better for the Government to adopt the yuan since the Chinese economy was growing vastly and could become the global currency in the near future.
“It is wiser to use the currency of the future that is the yuan. This could even strengthen trade ties with the Chinese,” he said.
He urged Zimbabweans to make themselves attractive for Chinese investments and to take advantage of the $3 trillion set aside by the Chinese government for investment.
“Zimbabwe should work hard to get the Chinese attention because doing business with Chinese makes money.
“China has set aside $3 trillion in its foreign reserves. Let us be creative, let us take advantage of this money and lobby for Chinese-Zimbabwe investments,” he said
The two-day Zimbabwe-China Trade Fair is meant to pave away for investment opportunities between the countries and discuss the Look East Policy. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter