Online Reporter
CHINA’S Chief Diplomat to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Zhou Ding’s remarks while addressing an event to honour veterans of the liberation struggle at the Chinese Embassy in Harare recently.
IT is a true pleasure to welcome you all to the Chinese Embassy. I trust the video we’ve just played has provided a fitting introduction to the significance of today’s gathering. To set the stage, please allow me to add further context on the occasion that brings us together.
Last year marked the 45th anniversary of China-Zimbabwe diplomatic relations. To commemorate this milestone, our Embassy hosted a historic photo exhibition celebrating the enduring friendship between our nations.
In our preparation for the photo exhibition, we received substantial assistance from Hon Shamu, Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentary Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association.
Thanks to his support, we were able to identify and locate several war veterans featured in the archival photographs — who had received military training in China, or in Tanzania by the Chinese side. And thereafter, I was honoured to welcome these veterans to the Chinese National Day reception and the photo exhibition last September.
Two months ago, I had the privilege of inviting 17 veterans who had received Chinese training to our embassy.
It was during that significant meeting that they jointly signed a letter addressed to HE Chinese President Xi Jinping, recalling their unforgettable training experiences, expressing gratitude for China’s support for Zimbabwe’s national liberation, congratulating China and the Chinese people on their accomplishments in the new era, and reaffirming their unwavering commitment to the lasting bond between Zimbabwe and China.
We are exceptionally honoured and excited that, amidst his busy schedule, President Xi Jinping read the letter with great care and has written a reply. It is therefore my greatest privilege to now share this warm and encouraging message from HE Chinese President Xi Jinping and to present it to our respected veterans today.
President Xi Jinping’s sincere response reflects his profound respect for Zimbabwe’s war veterans and his deep appreciation for the friendship between China and Zimbabwe.
His words also offer important guidance for the future of China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa relations. I understand that President Mnangagwa likewise holds you in high esteem and has met with some of our veterans here today recently.
The friendship between China and Zimbabwe was forged in the fires of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. At a time when China itself faced significant challenges, we stood firmly with our Zimbabwean and African brothers, offering unwavering political support, critical military training, and substantial material assistance.
Our veterans — including many here today — transformed the knowledge and skills gained in China into strength for Zimbabwe’s liberation, and forged an unbreakable bond between our two nations and peoples. I wish to pay the highest tribute to your historic contributions.
Over the past 46 years — since we established diplomatic ties on April 18th, 1980 — our partnership has steadily deepened, culminating last year in the elevation of our relationship to an All-Weather Community with a Shared Future.
We have consistently translated our profound friendship into tangible outcomes. This is vividly reflected in our joint delivery of flagship projects, including the New Parliament Building, the Robert Mugabe and the Victoria Falls airports, the Hwange and Kariba South power stations, the industrial parks, the hospitals, schools, boreholes, and irrigation facilities.
It is also evident in our robust trade relations, which reached a historic high in 2025 at US$4,39 billion, as well as in deepening people-to-people exchanges that continue to nurture our long-standing fraternal bonds.
Furthermore, our two nations have maintained close co-ordination on international affairs, supporting each other’s’ core interests, jointly upholding world peace and the common interests of the Global South, thereby setting an example of China-Africa friendship and South-South co-operation.
As emphasised in President Xi’s reply letter, China stands ready to work hand in hand with Zimbabwe and with Africa at large to carry forward our traditional friendship and jointly forge an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
As HE President Xi Jinping has always underscored, “each generation has its own mission”. To our esteemed war veterans here today: you are the pioneers and living witnesses of this cherished historic friendship.
Your sacrifices laid its enduring foundation. It is our solemn and shared duty to safeguard this precious legacy and faithfully pass it on. To the young friends present here: you are the torchbearers and successors of this great relationship. We now entrust this torch to your hands. Carry its flame forward with courage and vision, and write its new and vibrant chapters for generations to come.
In closing, I wish to reiterate my highest respect to all our war veterans and my heartfelt gratitude to every friend here who has long supported the friendship between China and Zimbabwe.
As the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches, I wish you all good health, great prosperity, and a very happy year of the horse.
Thank you. Tatenda. Siyabonga.
