admin
Guo Shaochun
Chinese Ambassador
Opening remarks of Chinese Ambassador Guo Shaochun
Welcome to today’s discussion on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China-Zimbabwe bilateral co-operation.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the media’s contribution to the development of China-Zimbabwe friendship and co-operation.
Our discussion today takes place at a very special and significant moment. Last month, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held in Beijing.
The past decade marked three major events of great immediate importance and profound historical significance for the cause of the CPC and Chinese people.
We embraced the centenary of the Communist Party of China; we ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal.
These historic achievements were accomplished by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people striving in unity, will be recorded in the national history, and bring a profound influence to the world.
Against the background of great achievements in the past decade, the congress has charted the great course for the next phase of China’s development.
From now on, the central task of the CPC is to lead the Chinese people to realise the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through the nation’s path to modernisation.
What is the Chinese modernisation? It is the modernisation of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature and of peaceful development.
It is totally different from the path of the western modernisation which is accompanied with war, aggression and colonisation.
The experience of the CPC shows that each country can realise its modernisation in a way suitable to its own national realities, offering an alternative approach to achieving transformation from that of Western countries.
The right of all countries to explore their own development path must be respected.
Today, we are witnessing and experiencing the unseen century changes. Our world, times, and history are changing in ways like never before. The world has once again reached a crossroads in history, and its future course will be decided by all the world’s peoples.
At the 20th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and is dedicated to encouraging a human community with a shared future. China will continue playing an active part in the reform and development of the global governance system.
We pursue a vision of global governance featuring shared growth through discussion and collaboration. We will continue working with the international society, particularly with the developing countries, to uphold true multilateralism, promote greater democracy in international relations, and make global governance fairer and more equitable. We oppose protectionism, the erection of “fences and barriers,” decoupling, disruption of industrial and supply chains, unilateral sanctions, and maximum-pressure tactics.
China is committed to the fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. China will strive to create new opportunities for the rest of the world with its own development and further contribution to the building of an open global economy.?
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will chart the course for long-term, steady and healthy growth of China-Zimbabwe relations.
In the past 42 years, following the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and with concrete actions, China has been supporting Zimbabwe to realise its national development, overcome the negative impacts of illegal sanctions and stay interacting with the global economy.
Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Mnangagwa, China and Zimbabwe have enjoyed ever-growing excellent relations and sound bilateral co-operation across the board.
On inter-governmental co-operation, by providing various assistance and support, China has been helping Zimbabwe improve its infrastructure urgently needed for promoting economic development and people’s livelihoods. The National Pharmaceutical Warehouse, the 1,000 borehole project, the new Parliament building, donation of 12 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, the High-Performance Computing Centre, the Chinese Medical and agricultural expert teams are all implemented with China aid.?
The Kariba South Hydro Power Station expansion, Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion, Victoria Falls International Airport upgrading, expansion and upgrading of the Robert Mugabe International Airport and NetOne broadband construction, are supported by China’s concessional loans.
The Protocol of Phytosanitary requirements for export of Zimbabwean fresh citrus to China signed last year is one of the policy supports by China in promoting export of Zimbabwe’s agricultural products.
It aims to establish “green lanes” for Zimbabwean agricultural products into the Chinese market, marking a breakthrough of China’s policy support in helping Zimbabwe’s economic development.
In the meantime, we encourage more well-established and capable Chinese companies to invest in Zimbabwe.
We are glad to see that the Chinese private investments are becoming the vital forces to promote Zimbabwe’s economy. The construction of Din son Iron and Steel Company invested by China Tsingshan Corporation is well on track. Through open bidding on the international market, some Chinese large enterprises have invested in local mining sector and are revitalising the resources that were long idled by western companies.
Many Chinese enterprises have also invested in other sectors such as tobacco planting and export, crop farming, building materials manufacturing, and freight logistics.
These investments introduce Zimbabwe’s products into international markets. This help in bringing considerable foreign currency earnings and tax revenues, tens of thousands of job opportunities and technology transfers and promote Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in the global economy.
With the concerted efforts of the Governments and enterprises, the trade between China and Zimbabwe has kept growing. In Jan-Sept 2022, China-Zimbabwe trade went up 29.9 percent to $1 743 billion, of which Zimbabwe exported $943 million to China and imported $800 million from China. China’s expanding imports contributed to a trade surplus of $143 million for Zimbabwe. In view of the global economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a great achievement which is significant to maintain Zimbabwe’s economic vitality.
What are the main characteristics of China-Zimbabwe co-operation? What is the major difference between China’s approach and the Western approach? It can be observed from the following three perspectives:
Firstly, we focus on development. Chinese investment mainly flows to infrastructure and production sectors. The China-financed or invested projects in Zimbabwe mostly cover electricity, airports and communication facilities, the areas most in need of development.
Secondly, we adhere to recipient-driven approaches and the principles of openness and transparency. Chinese investment in Zimbabwe always stays committed to the principle of equal consultation, complies with the business rules and respects the independent choices of Zimbabwean Government and the nation. Chinese investment in Zimbabwe is always in the open.
It is always easy to find out where the funds are used and what benefits are generated. This is the best transparency.
Thirdly, stay open and inclusive. Our co-operation will always stay open and inclusive. China stays open to trilateral and multilateral co-operation with international society to promote the economic development of Zimbabwe, especially in improving Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and people’s livelihood.
We have been working with the UN agencies in Zimbabwe to help the local communities get out of difficult positions for several years.
We welcome more countries to become sincere development partners of Zimbabwe. We are however firmly opposed to any practice that meddles in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs, tramples on Zimbabwe’s sovereignty in the name of assistance, contains Zimbabwe’s economic growth and improvement of people’s livelihoods by sanctions or other coercive measures.
As the good and real friend of Zimbabwe, we are pleased for every progress achieved by Zimbabwe. We are honoured to see Zimbabwe is committed to implementing its National Development Strategy 1, the policy of Open for Business has yielded significant fruits, and vigorous progress has been made on the realisation of Vision 2030.
Standing at the historical starting point, China will always follow the principles of peace, development, co-operation, and mutual benefit to deepen pragmatic collaboration with Zimbabwe.
China will actively implement the Nine Programmes of China-African co-operation and the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. China will firmly support Zimbabwe in pursuing an independent path which is suitable to its national conditions so as to realise its 2030 Vision at an early date.
China stands ready to work with Zimbabwe to further promote our bilateral co-operation and tap into the potential of common prosperity.
We are going to witness more programmes in our co-operation in the very near future.
More China-aid Covid-19 vaccines will be delivered very soon. We are going to receive another batch of Chinese Agricultural Experts to Zimbabwe and continue to build agricultural demonstration villages.
Another 300 boreholes, Phase of High-Performance Computing Centre, Anti-Narcotics Laboratory and other China-aid projects will be commissioned. Bilateral co-operation in agriculture, clean energy and high technology are being discussed.
Thank you!
Online Reporter