Zim, China trade surges

spanning two years and 10 months, the two countries had consolidated their economic relationship as well as strengthened political and social ties.
“Bilateral trade has increased from US$400 million to US$800 million during my tenure.
“In 2010 it was US$600 million,” Ambassador Xin said presenting a paper on “Outlook of China’s Economy and Sino-Zimbabwe Relations”.
“I am sure at the end of the year, it will be over this figure.” One of the major trade commodities between the two countries is tobacco, where China is Zimbabwe’s biggest buyer of the golden leaf.
The Chinese government has also provided support through donations to various initiatives in the country worth over US$25 million since 2009, he said.
To cement relations, high-level visits including President Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara visited China.
Ambassador Xin said Zimbabwe could take a cue on economic development from China, which has managed to transform its economy in the last 30 years to become the second largest in world.
He said among such lessons would be establishment of production and processing facilities in the country’s 10 provinces, with each one focusing on its own strengths such as cotton, tobacco or beef production.
Growth should not be focused on only one city but should be spread to other regions of the country, with those at advanced levels assisting those which are less developed as has happened in China, he said.
Ambassador Xin said adoption of policies focusing on economic development, stability, reform and respect for the rule of law had primarily enhanced China’s rapid growth.
“Reform is very important. It is critical that you do not forget to correct your mistakes (of the past),” he said.
He said to ensure stability in a country, it was also critical that the gap between the rich and the poor be minimised while development targets should be taken seriously to ensure they were achieved.
“They must not be changed, even if the Government changes,” he said.
Turning to the international scene, Ambassador Xin said China was not a threat to world peace and would not use its growing influence to bully smaller countries.
He expressed optimism the Asian powerhouse could become the world’s number one economy if the ruling Communist Party remained focused on economic development and maintained peace and stability in the world’s most populous nation.
From Zimbabwe, Ambassador Xin will be moving base to Namibia.
Meanwhile, former Zimbabwean ambassador to China Mr Chris Mutsvangwa applauded the arrival of China as a major player, especially in the economic field which had previously been dominated by Western countries.
“China has become a national exporter of capital,” he said, adding that during the colonial era, Western countries only financially supported those African countries where most of the own citizens lived.
Mr Mutsvangwa said Africa would do better if it cemented relations with the Asian giant. — New Ziana.