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Chinese President Xi Jinping

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter—
Preparations to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrives in the country tomorrow on a two-day State visit are almost complete, with Government yesterday saying everything was in place for the historic occasion. The State visit reciprocates the one undertaken by President Mugabe to the Asian country last year during which mega deals were signed between the two countries.

Harare International Airport was a hive of activity yesterday as officials made final arrangements to receive the Chinese leader. President Xi’s visit has generated a lot of excitement among Zimbabweans as it comes on the back of several mega deals signed by the two countries last year to energise the country’s economic recovery.

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President Xi is expected to witness the signing ceremony of the final stages of the deals and agreements of cooperation for implementation to start. The Chinese leader will share the stage with President Mugabe to witness the signing ceremony for the vital deals in sectors such as energy, transport, infrastructure development and agriculture.

More importantly, President Xi’s historic visit is a vindication of Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy which was adopted after Western countries imposed sanctions on the country to protest the land reform programme nearly 15 years ago. The programme placed millions of hectares of land formerly owned by a few white farmers into the hands of the majority indigenous people.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday said the necessary security accorded to a visiting Head of State had been put in place for President Xi. “Representatives of various ministries met last week to look into areas of possible cooperation,” he said.

“Agreements will be signed, especially in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and transport.” The visit by President Xi is the first of its kind by the Asian economic giant’s sitting President.

Ambassador Bimha said the agreements to be signed tomorrow would enhance cooperation between Zimbabwe and the world’s second largest economy. He said President Xi’s 200-strong delegation included many Chinese businesspeople who will interact with their local counterparts, leading to more Chinese investment or joint ventures and business benefits to Zimbabwe.

China has become the country’s biggest trade partner, with trade statistics between the two countries peaking at nearly $1,2 billion between January and November last year compared to $1,1 billion for the whole of 2013.

Speaking ahead of his visit, President Xi said despite the constant and complex changes in the international landscape, it remained a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy to consolidate relations with Zimbabwe and other African nations.

“This will never change,” he said. “In conducting China’s relations with Africa, we adhere to the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests.

“We will work with Zimbabwe and all other friendly African nations to pave a broader and more solid road of mutual benefit and common development for China and Africa. The Chinese people are striving to achieve our ‘two centenary goals’ and realise the Chinese dream of great national renewal, while Zimbabwe is making vigorous efforts to promote the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation and achieve economic independence and self-reliant sustainable development.”

President Xi said he was looking forward to having in-depth exchanges with President Mugabe and friends from all sectors of Zimbabwe during his visit, with the aim of enhancing friendship between China and Zimbabwe.

Last week, President Mugabe hailed the cordial relations between Zimbabwe and China which date back to the time of the liberation struggle when the Asian country provided material and training for liberation war fighters. The visit by President Xi is expected to take the relations a step further and help transform the political relations into tangible economic benefits.

China has proved to be Zimbabwe’s key political and economic ally by check mating the bullying of Zimbabwe by Western countries at international fora, including at the United Nations.