Online Reporter
Amb Zhou Ding
ADDRESS by Amb Zhou Ding at 2026 Harare Chinese New Year Carnival.
Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development,
Hon Emily Jesaya, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture,
Hon Tongai Mnangagwa, Deputy Minister of Tourism and hospitality,
Hon Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training,
Hon Dr Omphile Marupi, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services,
Zanu-PF Politburo members, Cde Endy Mhlanga, Cde Tendai Chirau,
His Worship Jacob Mafume, Mayor of Harare,
Amb Paul Chikawa,
Hon Members of Parliament,
Representatives of the veterans of liberation struggle,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
Happy Chinese New Year!
It is a great pleasure to join you in celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Harare. I would like to start by extending my sincere gratitude to the various Zimbabwean Government agencies for their unwavering support for this significant celebration. My special thanks go to the local Chinese community for organising this wonderful event, which brings us joy and blessings. With this Chinese New Year carnival, you’ve once again demonstrated your deep commitment to the friendship between China and Zimbabwe, and to Zimbabwe’s cultural diversity and economic prosperity.
Dear friends,
The year 2025 has been a year of remarkable achievements for China-Zimbabwe relations and for our all-weather community with a shared future. We have proudly witnessed the completion and commissioning of some landmark projects, supported by Chinese government financing or driven by China’s private sector investments. Our investment and trade relations have continued to deepen, injecting fresh momentum into Zimbabwe’s socioeconomic development. The cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been remarkably vibrant and robust. Today, as we celebrate the Chinese New Year, we also celebrate our enduring partnership, our unwavering solidarity, and our joint achievements in the past year.
Dear friends,
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time for family reunions, for expressing love and goodwill, and for planning for the future. This millennium-old tradition in China has now become a global celebration, embraced by nearly two billion people across five continents. Its core values resonates deeply with the spirit of Ubuntu, a philosophy cherished by our Zimbabwean friends. Both China and Zimbabwe hold our traditions and cultural heritage dear, which form the foundation of our societies and provide enduring wisdom, inspiration, and strength on our paths to prosperity. In a world facing profound challenges, we will continue to protect, preserve our cultural roots, as we embrace the diversity of the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
The year 2026 is designated by China and the African Union as the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”. With the Year of the Horse just around the corner, I reaffirm China’s commitment to advancing our all-weather partnership. I look forward to working closely with our Zimbabwean friends and the Chinese community here to further strengthen the fraternal bonds between our two great nations. May the indomitable spirit of the Horse — symbolising energy, vigour, diligence and perseverance — guide us forward.
On this auspicious occasion, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Horse. May Zimbabwe achieve every success on its development journey! Thank you! Tatenda!
