Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
SPEAKER of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, is in China on a 5-day working Parliamentary bilateral visit.
This is Adv Mudenda’s first visit to China during his tenure as Speaker of Parliament.
In a Statement, the Parliament of Zimbabwe said that within the scope of escalating parliamentary diplomacy and the quest for multilateralism within the oversight role of Parliaments, a comprehensive programme that celebrates China’s political and cultural heritage has been collated.
“In that regard, the Speaker will interact with his counterpart, undertake tours of trailblazing and pioneering companies in various sectors of the economy, including high-tech companies and in the agricultural sector. Additionally, Speaker Mudenda will also visit the Palace Museum, Museum of the Communist party, the Ant Group, China Railway international Group, Gansu Construction Investment Group, as well as Nantan Photovoltaic Power Generation Project base of the Guangzhou district, among other critical engagements in a highly packed programme,” read the statement.
The visit also seeks to renew synergies within the Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association, a key cog in strengthening the deep legislative relations between the two countries.
“Furthermore, through this visit and in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Zimbabwe-China diplomatic relations, Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Zimbabwe-China diplomatic relations anchored on mutual trust, sovereign respect, and solidarity and shared prosperity,” read the statement.
The visit was at the request of his counterpart, His Excellency, Zhao Leji, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC).
The Speaker of Parliament was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare by China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Zhou Ding.
Upon arrival at Beijing International Airport, Speaker Mudenda and his delegation were received by Her Excellency, Mrs Abigail Shoniwa, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to China, Hon Zhou Xuewen, Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China (who will accompany the delegation for the duration of the working visit), Ms Bai Dandan, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the General Office of NPC Standing Committee and senior Zimbabwe Embassy Officials.
Speaker Mudenda is accompanied by Members of Parliament who are also members of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Cde Webster Shamu, Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Labanny Munemo, Auxilia Dhanzi, Basilia Majaya and Jabulani Hadebe.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy excellent fraternal relations dating back to the struggle for independence. China played a critical role in providing the frontline liberation freedom fighters with material and tactical support, vital to the ultimate success of the war against the minority white settler regime.
“This far, government-to-government relations between Zimbabwe and China have scaled higher.
Significantly, this historic visit comes on the backdrop of the legislature’s move to the magnificent New Parliament Building constructed under the strategic cooperation between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China,” the statement read.
