Online ReporterKuda Bwititi
Zimpapers Politics Hub
CHINA on Monday commemorated the 100th anniversary of the birth of former President Jiang Zemin, a leader remembered in Zimbabwe as a “great friend” whose tenure helped deepen relations between Beijing and Harare.
The centenary provided an opportunity not only to reflect on the life of one of China’s most influential leaders, but also to examine the foundations laid during his presidency for China’s engagement with Africa and the developing world.
President Xi Jinping led a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the anniversary of Mr Jiang’s birth.
In his remarks, President Xi called on the Chinese people to learn from Mr Jiang’s firm political conviction, describing him as a leader who remained steadfast in his communist ideals and loyal to the Communist Party of China and the people.
The message was significant as China navigates a rapidly changing global environment characterised by geopolitical tensions and increasing competition among major powers.
President Xi said China must remain vigilant against potential dangers and face future challenges with determination.
“On the new journey ahead, we must heighten our sense of vigilance against potential dangers.
With an indomitable fighting spirit and superb skill in struggle, we must proactively meet the major tests posed by high winds and rushing waters, or even by raging storms,” he said.
Mr Jiang died in 2022 at the age of 96.
He served as China’s President from 1993 to 2003, a period that proved critical in the country’s transformation into a major global economic power.
His presidency came at a time when China was accelerating economic reforms, expanding international trade and opening its economy further to the outside world.
One of the major milestones during his tenure was China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001.
The development significantly increased China’s integration into the global trading system and helped create conditions for the extraordinary expansion of its manufacturing and export sectors in subsequent years.
But Mr Jiang’s legacy extends beyond economics.
His administration also placed considerable emphasis on strengthening China’s relations with developing countries, particularly in Africa.
This was reflected in his 1996 African tour, which included Zimbabwe.
For Zimbabwe, that visit remains one of the defining moments in the history of relations between Harare and Beijing.
Mr Jiang made a historic State visit to Zimbabwe in May 1996, becoming the first Chinese President to visit the country since Independence in 1980.
The visit was part of a six-nation African tour aimed at strengthening China’s relations with the continent at a time when Beijing was increasingly looking towards the developing world for stronger political and economic partnerships.
In Harare, Mr Jiang met the late former President Robert Mugabe.
The meeting between the two leaders was more than a routine diplomatic engagement.
It came at a time when Zimbabwe and China were steadily strengthening their political relationship, built on the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
The visit also provided an important platform for expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
Three decades later, the relationship between Zimbabwe and China has grown considerably, encompassing mining, agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, energy and trade.
Many of the areas of cooperation seen today can be traced to the political foundations established during the early years of engagement between the two countries.
It is, therefore, not surprising that President Mnangagwa has consistently spoken warmly about Mr Jiang.
Following the former Chinese leader’s death in 2022, President Mnangagwa paid tribute to him as a statesman who contributed to greater cooperation between China and the international community.
He also recalled his own interaction with Mr Jiang during the 1996 visit.
“I personally have fond memories of my personal interaction with the late Cde Jiang Zemin in 1996, when he paid a visit to Zimbabwe on a state visit and I was assigned by the late President RG Mugabe to accompany him,” President Mnangagwa said.
He described the visit as successful and said it had cemented the excellent relations enjoyed between Zimbabwe and China.
That personal recollection offers an important insight into the depth of the relationship between the two countries.
Unlike relationships driven purely by commercial interests, the Zimbabwe-China partnership has historically been anchored in political understanding and solidarity.
The relationship has also survived significant changes in the international environment.
When Zimbabwe faced increasing pressure from Western countries in the early 2000s, China maintained its engagement with Harare.
This contributed to the development of what later became known as the “all-weather” friendship between Zimbabwe and China.
The relationship has since evolved beyond traditional diplomatic ties.
Chinese companies have become major players in Zimbabwe’s mining and manufacturing sectors, while Chinese-supported projects have expanded into infrastructure, agriculture, health and other areas.
The growth of the relationship also reflects China’s broader approach to Africa.
Mr Jiang’s 1996 African tour articulated principles that have continued to feature prominently in China-Africa relations, including equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, non-interference and common development.
These principles remain relevant today as African countries seek partnerships that support industrialisation, infrastructure development and economic transformation.
For Zimbabwe, the Jiang legacy therefore goes beyond the memories of a presidential visit three decades ago.
It represents a period when the political foundations of a relationship that has since expanded significantly were being strengthened.
The centenary of Mr Jiang’s birth comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to deepen economic cooperation with China as part of its broader engagement and re-engagement drive.
China has become an important development partner for Zimbabwe, with cooperation spanning major infrastructure projects, mining investments, agriculture and industrial development.
The continuing expansion of these ties demonstrates the long-term significance of the diplomatic groundwork laid by earlier generations of leaders.
Mr Jiang’s presidency was also important in shaping China’s emergence on the global stage.
Under his leadership, China became increasingly integrated into the international economic system while maintaining its own political and development model.
His tenure helped position the country for the remarkable economic expansion that followed in the decades after he left office.
For Africa, the significance of his legacy lies partly in the fact that China’s rise was accompanied by a deliberate expansion of relations with the developing world.
For Zimbabwe, it is a legacy that carries a personal and diplomatic dimension.
As China marks 100 years since the birth of Mr Jiang, Zimbabwe remembers a Chinese leader who visited Harare and helped strengthen the political foundations of a relationship that continues to shape the two countries’ cooperation.
Three decades after that historic visit, the friendship between Harare and Beijing remains a prominent feature of Zimbabwe’s foreign policy.
The centenary is therefore not simply a commemoration of a former Chinese President.
It is also a moment to reflect on the enduring diplomatic bridges built between Zimbabwe and China during Mr Jiang’s era and how those bridges have continued to support cooperation between the two countries.
