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TRADE between China and Zimbabwe will surpass the $1billion mark by the end of the year, Chinese Ambassador Mr Lin Lin said yesterday. He said trade between the two countries reached $914 million in the first nine months of the year, a 29,8 percent increase from the same period last year,
In an interview on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac) 4th legal meeting in Victoria Falls, Mr Lin Lin said trade value between his country and Zimbabwe was poised for more growth.
“According to our statistics, the trade volume between our two countries in the first nine months of this year was $915 million with China’s export to Zimbabwe being $318million (+9,5percent) and Zimbabwe’s export to China being $597 million (+44,1percent),” he said.
Mr Lin said China-Zimbabwe trade was projected to surpass the $1billion mark by the end of the year.
He said for the past decade, China had been an all-weather friend of Zimbabwe.
“China has been the most leading investor in Zimbabwe over the past three years. We are still encouraging more Chinese investors to come to Zimbabwe and participate in the social and economic recovery of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Lin.
He said the current growth and projected growth in the Zimbabwe economy was largely attributed to the successful conducting of the 31 July harmonised elections.
“Zimbabwe is a success story and we expect more Chinese investors here in the line of trade, mining, infrastructural development, power and energy among other facets of the economy. We have more respect for Zimbabwe as our friends and we are therefore optimistic of better co-operation,” said Mr Lin.
Online Reporter