President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Zimbabwe counterpart Robert Mugabe in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe during his state visit to the country on December 1, 2015. Both sides praised China-Zimbabwe’s long-celebrated friendship, and agree on future blueprint of bilateral relationship.

President Xi Jinping said that China and Zimbabwe are truly dynamic friends, and that China will never forget its old friend.

China will work with Zimbabwe to build the bilateral ties to achieve equal, mutually-supportive, and win-win development, said Xi.

China supports Zimbabwe in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs, said Xi Jinping.

The President also said that both sides should keep close contacts in all levels. China will encourage more outbound investments in Zimbabwe, and assist Zimbabwe in developing modern agriculture industrial chain, mine industrial chain, and manufacture bases. China is willing to participate in the infrastructure construction of Zimbabwe, including electricity, tele-communication, and transportation, said President Xi.

“We would like to cooperate with Zimbabwe with regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to coordinately closely with in international organizations, so to protect the rights and interests of developing countries, and to facilitate the democratization of international relations,” said President Xi Jinping.

President Xi also touched on aspects in education and tourism, saying that China and Zimbabwe should deepen cooperation in these areas, as well as the development in areas such as sanitization, youth, and media.

Zimbabwe President Mugabe extended his warm welcome to President Xi Jinping’s visit to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe hails the sincerity China harbors towards African countries such as Zimbabwe, said President Mugabe.

“We thank China for its long-time support,” said President Mugabe. “ We wish that we can learn from China’s experience of developing its economy and society, and that China continues its support to Zimbabwe in agriculture, industry, and infrastructure construction,” he said.

Both presidents witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries after the talk.

In the afternoon, President Xi Jinping laid a wreath in front of the National Heroes Acre in Zimbabwe.