Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has expressed Zimbabwe’s commitment to enhancing parliamentary exchanges from the leadership level down to parliamentary committees and staff training.
He is leading a delegation in China where he met his Chinese counterpart, Zhao Leji, yesterday.
In a Press release, Parliament of Zimbabwe highlighted Adv Mudenda’s concerns regarding the low bilateral parliamentary engagements, despite progress at Government level.
“I am optimistic that this visit will facilitate further exchanges and capacity building,” he said.
Adv Mudenda announced the establishment of a Zimbabwe-China Parliamentary Friendship Association to guide future interactions.
Mr Zhao welcomed the initiative and agreed to a reciprocal visit to Zimbabwe.
“We look forward to strengthening our ties through these exchanges,” he said.
“China will continue advocating for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe,” he added, while also expressing support for Zimbabwe’s bid for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
In addition, China aims to strengthen health partnerships and explore cooperation in agriculture, tourism, and initiatives for women and youth.
Adv Mudenda expressed gratitude for China’s ongoing support.
“We appreciate the collaboration and look forward to working together,” he said.
He also called for cooperation between tertiary institutions and the pharmaceutical industry, reaffirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) outcomes.
To kick-start a fully packed programme, Adv Mudenda and his delegation which comprises Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cde Webster Shamu, and members of the same Committee, namely Labanny Munemo, Auxilia Dhanzi, Basilia Majaya and Jabulani Hadebe, by visiting the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the Ant Group technology company as well as the Museum of the Communist Party of China.
The Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The Speaker and his delegation were impressed by the stunning architecture, intricate designs, and historical significance of the palace, which served as the residence of Chinese emperors for over 500 years.
Later on, Adv Mudenda expressed admiration for the heritage preservation efforts that ensure this cultural treasure remains accessible for future generations.
Following the cultural excursion, Adv Mudenda and his delegation visited the Ant Group, a leader in digital finance and technology innovation. The Ant Group is renowned for its pioneering work in mobile payments and financial services, which have transformed the economic landscape in China and beyond.
The Ant Group traces its roots back to Alipay, which was established in 2004 to create trust between online sellers and buyers. It is China’s biggest payments provider with more than 730 million monthly users on its digital payments service, Alipay.
Formally known as Ant Financial, Ant Group is an affiliate company of the Chinese Alibaba Group and was set up in 2014.
The group owns one of China’s largest digital payment platforms Alipay, founded in 2004, which serves close to one billion users.
