By Staff Writer
Zimbabwe will be part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit which is set to run from Wednesday to Friday in Beijing.
This is not just a dress up and show up kind of meeting where African leaders use the platform to gobble some state finances at all. The African leaders have realised that the People’s Republic of China is a friend who has gone through the same problems and is ready to help Africa move out of their own.
What makes this relationship unique is that each African country is able to find solutions to its problems using the Chinese characteristics model. The nations involved continue to benefit as they work towards common growth and sustainable development.
There is mutual trust and fruitful cooperation between the two continents and they share historical experiences of suffering imperialist invasion. Apart from that the two continents have a common need for social and economic development.
They have also come to agree on their demands international order and global governance making it a win-win partnership. There is no exploitation at all. Who wouldn’t want to be part of this arrangement.
Following the friendship with China, Zimbabwe has benefitted immensely from the relationship with the Fortune 500 companies coming to invest in Zimbabwe.
Chinese companies like Hubei Agricultural Reclamation Company, Shandong Dezhou Shuangfeng Cotton Industry Company, Shandong Jinfang Cotton Industry Company, Sinotex and China CAMC Engineering Company, are actively developing agricultural co-operation in Zimbabwe.
Mining ventures include one of Zimbabwe's largest lithium mine, Bikita Minerals, acquired by China's Sinomine Resource Group in a deal worth $180m to increase capacity. Several other Chinese mining companies operate across the nation including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Chengxin Lithium among others.
Commenting on Zimbabwe’s participation at the Summit this year, ZANU PF Director for Information and Publicity, Cde Farai Marapira said Zimbabwe's participation is in line with local policies.
“Zimbabwe’s attendance dovetails with the President’s mantras of being a friend to all, Open for business and the Vision 2030 attainment. As we seek to industrialize in our thrust for economic growth, there is no better place to take notes than from China itself, a doyen of self development,” Cde Marapira said.
“The history of China finds many parallels in the history of our own country. The visit by the President to Nanjing, where he trained as a soldier in 1964 shows the longevity of our journey in mutual trust, brotherhood and loyalty. We are proud to be part of this and we celebrate this beautiful, bountiful engagement.”
The theme of the 2024 FOCAC Summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future."