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Walter Nyamukondiwa in BEIJING, China

Delegates from African countries are in Beijing, China at the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Senior Officials Meeting to review implementation of the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC outcomes held in Senegal in 2021.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade permanent secretary Ambassador James Manzou is representing Zimbabwe accompanied deputy Ambassador to China Mr Tamuka Muranga.

Amb Manzou earlier shared the country’s progress in implementing projects through cooperation and support from China.

Several projects under the “Nine Programmes” announced Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 8th Ministerial Conference in Dakar, Senegal in 2021 have been completed or are ongoing in Zimbabwe.

Among the projects are the upgrading of the R.G Mugabe International Airport, which was recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa, Expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station with the addition of Units 7 and 8, which are now generating 600MW of electricity.

It also includes expansion of NetOne broadband, establishment of an Agricultural Demonstration Centre at Gwebi College, construction of the New Parliament Building and the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse among others.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary General of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC Mr Wu Peng said increased cooperation had seen amplification of the Global South issues.

“The will and capabilities of global south countries including China and African countries to strengthen solidarity to pursue development and oppose interference have kept growing,” said Mr Peng.

“Our collective rise it unstoppable! We all agree that Africa’s role in the global governance system is continuously growing.”

As a result, he said, the African Union (AU) was now a permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) countries and the concerns of African countries in reforming the global governance system were extensively being understood and supported by the world.

Ambassador Manzou said bilateral cooperation with China was complementing Government’s effort towards realisation of Vision 2030 of attaining an Upper Middle Income and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).