‘China remains our principal ally’

Nduduzo Tshuma in BEIJING, China

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday said China remains Zimbabwe’s principal ally, stressing that the relations between the two States, rooted in solidarity dating back to the country’s liberation struggle, must be preserved and strengthened.

The President is here to attend the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War to be held at Tiananmen Square today.

At the invitation of his counterpart, President Xi Jinping, President Mnangagwa is one of the two African Heads of State and Government invited to the celebrations, which hold symbolic meaning for both Zimbabwe and China.

Speaking during his visit to the Zimbabwean Embassy here, President Mnangagwa recalled his early encounter visit to China when he led the first group of Zanla fighters for military training at the Nanjing Army Command College in Jiangsu, in 1964.

During his visit here last year, the President visited the college as he reflected on Zimbabwe’s long and painful journey to self-determination.

“Our relations with the People’s Republic of China date back to the days of our struggle. These relations show that we have a cherished relationship, which, for some of you who were young, we were trained here.

“We were the first group of Zanla to be trained here and since that time, we have had a very close relationship with the People’s Republic of China, both on the political and economic level. So, I am their military product,” said

President Mnangagwa, adding that he was the only surviving member of the group of fighters he led to China.

“I am saying this just to show that our relationship with the People’s Republic of China is quite historical; they supported our liberation struggle and we were the first trained cadres from Southern Rhodesia at the time. China is on the list of those countries we regard as our close friends.”

The President chronicled how, after training, he and the Crocodile Gang carried out sabotage missions, including blowing up a goods train in Fort Victoria, now Masvingo, which led to his arrest.

Saved from the gallows by his age, he was instead jailed for 10 years at Khami Maximum Prison on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

“We are now independent and here you are enjoying the fruits of independence. We are a proud people. I wish that all of you in the embassy here should know that in our attainment of independence, there was a lot of contribution from this country,” said President Mnangagwa.

Against this background, the President said he only sends envoys who understand the importance of the relationship between China and Zimbabwe.

“So, when you are here, you Zimbabweans who are here, the diplomats, I expect you to feel very much at home because I know that the Chinese accept and are welcoming to Zimbabweans,” he said.

“Because of the history that is there, the Chinese leadership, the Communist Party, is very warm towards us, so we don’t want people to spoil that long-standing relationship.”

Before leaving the embassy, the President signed the visitor’s book, reflecting on his journey from freedom fighter to Head of State.

“I wish to mention that my first visit to this country was with four other comrades. We came here for military training. I did not know then that one day in the distant future, I would again visit as President of free Zimbabwe.

“China remains to me the most solid revolutionary country that contributed to the liberation and freedom of today’s free Zimbabwe,” wrote the President.

Speaking to the media afterwards, President Mnangagwa emphasised that his formative military training in China moulded him into the revolutionary he became.

“I was specifically focusing on the People’s Republic of China because of the background that I have. I’m here today as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I think that came from the training I received here that moulded me to be a solid military cadre of the revolution, which I believe I still am today as a result of the grooming that I received here 60 years ago,” he said.

“There is a lot that this country has contributed towards the armed struggle in our country. The first group of armed cadres, we trained here and others trained in Algeria and the USSR but we trained here to go and fight Ian Smith in Southern Rhodesia.”

Meanwhile, the President described engagements with China Railway International Group (Crig) at his hotel early yesterday as a sign of friendly ties with China.

Zimbabwe is expected to conclude a US$600 million agreement with Crig this year to rehabilitate its railway system, a development set to position the country as the region’s central logistics hub.

“There is good blood between us and China Railways. I have been talking to my officers about how we can benefit from the modern railway infrastructure that is here, if we discuss with them and see how they can design and modernise our own railway system in the country,” said the President.

“It is not a one-day affair, but something that we can discuss and have a long-term plan to implement because all we want is to modernise.

“We don’t need to invent the wheel today when we know that there are countries that are friendly to Zimbabwe that have state-of-the-art railway systems in their countries, so we only have to collaborate.”

President Mnangagwa also met with executives from global telecommunications giant Huawei as part of a series of engagements aimed at strengthening Harare’s relations with Beijing and advancing economic diplomacy.

After today’s celebrations, the President will continue with his engagements, which will culminate in his bilateral talks with President Xi tomorrow.