Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Beijing, China
FOREIGN Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira has hailed the elevation of ties between Harare and Beijing, saying the development will open vast prospects for economic growth and prosperity.
President Mnangagwa and his Chinese counterpart President Xi held bilateral talks on Thursday morning and agreed to elevate relations from a “Five Star Iron Clad Friendship” to an “All-Weather Zimbabwe–China Community with a Shared Future,” that will see a boom in economic relations across sectors between the two countries.
Speaking after the high-level talks, Prof Murwira said the strengthened relationship underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to deepening partnerships that are anchored on sovereignty, mutual respect and shared development.
“We are seeing our economy being interwoven with the economy of the People’s Republic of China in a very big way,” he said.
“Today’s meeting between their Excellencies was an excellent one where they discussed bilateral issues, but most of all, the elevation of the relationship between the two republics.”
Prof Murwira noted that the partnership extended across critical sectors including mining, industrialisation, value addition, agro-business and health, while opening new avenues for trade and investment.
“We are very excited and very happy that China and Zimbabwe are coming from a very long way and are going far in terms of how we relate,” he said.
“Our relationship is based on mutual respect of each other’s sovereignty and mutual support at bilateral and multilateral levels. Zimbabwe and China go hand in hand, and we are very happy indeed with the elevation of this relationship.”
The Minister said the collaboration brought economic meaning to ordinary people by building foundations of peace and prosperity.
“This relationship we are forging is a productive relationship, which means we are supporting each other in all spheres,” he added. “That’s what a shared future is: a future of hope and progress, reduced poverty, increased wealth and greater security. Wealth is coming through this relationship.”
