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Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe will continue trading with China despite repeated negative criticism from other countries, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
Speaking at a reception to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China held at the Chinese Embassy in Harare yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the relationship between the two countries which is now common knowledge was grounded on mutual trust.
“Of course, the cooperation between China and Africa in general and China and Zimbabwe in particular, has not gone unnoticed. Indeed, it has been regularly maligned by those who have contributed little or nothing to our development efforts.
“We have received lectures without end on the dangers of that cooperation. Fortunately, we know what is good and what is right for us and we will not pay heed to these distractions,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She said since its support during the liberation struggle, China has continued to stand by Zimbabwe.
She said programmes such as the expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport (completed), the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (underway), the Kariba South Hydropower Station Expansion Project (completed), the Hwange Power Station (underway) and the construction of the New Parliament Building (underway) bore evidence to the cordial relationship between the two countries.
“We are happy to move with our Chinese friends on that development trajectory, convinced that their experience in reform and opening up will greatly assist our own efforts,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She congratulated China on its 70th anniversary saying its achievements of rising from an under-developed agrarian country to the world’s second largest economy was of great reason for celebration.
“We celebrate with the government and people of the People’s Republic of China because they are our comprehensive strategic partners. We are proud to say this because we value their friendship and we know that it is grounded on mutual trust,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe will continue to support China in its core interests, which include the One China Policy.
Speaking at the same occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said China will also continue to support Zimbabwe in the fight against foreign bullies who have imposed illegal sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy.
“After Zimbabwe’s independence, we continue supporting Zimbabwe standing up to bullies by foreign powers, with the highlight being that China vetoed the proposed resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council in 2008, which is the first and only time that China has exercised its veto at the Security Council for an African country,” said Ambassador Shaochun.
He said the backbone of the successful bilateral relations between the two countries has been mutual respect and equal treatment by regarding each other as equals.
“When looking back, the past 39 years, there are three main reasons that can be summarised for the great achievement in China-Zimbabwe relations.
“First, both China and Zimbabwe take bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and are guided by the vision and leadership of our two leaders.
“Second, both China and Zimbabwe insist on mutual respect and equal treatment by regarding the other as an equal partner and a reliable friend. “Third, both China and Zimbabwe insist on win-win outcome and common development. We have never imposed one’s unilateral will on the other,” said Ambassador Shaochun.
Online Reporter