Online Reporter
Online Reporter
CHINA yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to standing “firmly” with Zimbabwe in its push towards national modernisation and industrialisation.
Speaking at a reception celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Harare yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Zhou Ding highlighted how deep-rooted historical bonds and burgeoning economic ties continue to position China as Zimbabwe’s most strategic global ally.
Citing President Xi Jinping’s correspondence with Zimbabwean liberation veterans earlier in the year, Amb Zhou emphasised that the diplomatic relationship is grounded in a legacy of shared struggle, spanning decades of mutual political support.
China remains Zimbabwe’s premier source of foreign direct investment, anchored by signature mega-projects such as the Dinson Iron and Steel Plant and Huayou’s Prospect Lithium project.
Upcoming solar and waste-to-energy initiatives are projected to inject over 1 000 megawatts into the national grid.
“Our flagship cooperation projects have continued to deliver tangible results. The upgraded Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport, funded by China, continue to serve as regional aviation hubs, enhancing Zimbabwe’s international connectivity and visibility. The Hwange Power
Station Units 7 and 8 and the Kariba South Hydropower Station continue to supply more than half of Zimbabwe’s electricity, powering households and industries,” said Amb Zhou.
“Over the past year, we have also delivered a host of signature projects benefiting communities across Zimbabwe — including the High-Performance Computing Centre, the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Agriculture, the Juncao Technology Assistance Project, 300 boreholes, the donation of 5 000 metric tonnes of rice, plus drought mitigation and post-disaster maternal and child health projects in partnership with with UN agencies, to name just a few. These wide-ranging initiatives strongly complement the Zimbabwean Government’s endeavours to improve people’s livelihoods, advance industrial development and pursue national modernisation.”
Bilateral exchanges between Harare and Beijing were bolstered in 2026 by zero-tariff policies on African imports, community initiatives including 300 drilled boreholes, a 5 000-tonne rice donation and agricultural innovation partnerships.
Over 500 Zimbabwean officials have undertaken capacity-building programmes in China so far in 2026, alongside a 55 percent year-on-year surge in total bilateral travel.
Addressing broader geopolitical alignment, Ambassador Zhou underscored Zimbabwe’s support for international initiatives launched by Beijing, including the Global Development and Global Governance Initiatives.
He also congratulated Zimbabwe on its upcoming COMESA chairmanship and its election to the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
Zhou added that as China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan and Zimbabwe advances its Second National Development Strategy (NDS2) towards Vision 2030, China remains dedicated to supporting local value addition and technology sharing, particularly in emerging areas like artificial intelligence governance.
