Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere in BEIJING, China
ZIMBABWE’S investment and trade drive in China received high-level political backing yesterday following Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga’s meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.
The meeting was held ahead of an intensive programme of economic diplomacy with Chinese investors and businesses, which is expected to intensify today on the sidelines of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).
Vice Premier Ding is also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, making his engagement with VP Chiwenga significant as Zimbabwe seeks to translate its strong political relations with Beijing into deeper economic cooperation.
The meeting is expected to provide high-level political backing to the Vice President’s engagements with Chinese investors and businesses.
VP Chiwenga is expected to meet investors, business executives and tour companies as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to attract capital, technology and expertise into key sectors of the economy.
His business programme will also take him to several districts in China, where he is expected to engage companies and explore opportunities for investment partnerships.
“We had a very good meeting with the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, who is also a member of the State Council, and I fully explained to him that I was here at the behest of our President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and that we are coming to strengthen our friendship,” said VP Chiwenga after the meeting.
“As you know that our friendship has now been raised to the iron clad and so we discussed quite a number of issues for us to look into, and the most important issues were on the investments, on value addition, on beneficiation, manufacturing and industrialisation.”
The engagement with Vice Premier Ding sets the political tone for the Vice President’s economic diplomacy, signalling Beijing’s high-level attention to Zimbabwe’s efforts to deepen bilateral economic cooperation.
Zimbabwe and China have longstanding political and economic relations, with the latest engagements increasingly focused on leveraging those ties to generate investment, trade, tourism and other tangible economic benefits.
Earlier in the day, VP Chiwenga called for greater Chinese participation in Zimbabwe’s efforts to keep pace with global advances in automation and digital innovation when he addressed the 13th CIFTIS. His call comes as Government broadens its economic development strategy to strengthen the services sector, including manufacturing and key areas such as health services.
“As the world shifts through automation and digital innovation, demand is moving from physical goods to digital, green, and intelligent services,” said VP Chiwenga.
“For Zimbabwe, the China International Fair for Trade in Services helps us identify trade in services opportunities, build export capacity, and attract credible partners across technology, finance, tourism, education and healthcare.
“Zimbabwe has a strong potential in services which is supported by our strategic position in Southern Africa, a skilled population and a rich natural and cultural heritage.
“While tourism remain a key strength, we are building capacities in transport, professional services, trade and financial services to diversify and expand our services export base,” said VP Chiwenga.
In his opening remarks at the fair, Vice Premier Ding reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation with including Zimbabwe.
He said China was prepared to pursue mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver shared development and prosperity. The Vice Premier said China remained committed to expanding international cooperation and creating opportunities for its partners to benefit from the continued growth and transformation of the Chinese economy.
