News / National
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi arrived in Zimbabwe
11 Feb 2011 at 06:42hrs | Views
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has arrived here for a two-day visit to Zimbabwe which is expected to result in a number of lucrative investment deals being signed between the two countries.
Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi received Yang, who is leading an 11-member delegation, on arrival at the Harare International Airport Thursday.
Yang was immediately whisked away to a local hotel where he will be staying.
In an arrival statement handed to journalists who had gathered to interview him, Yang said China considered Zimbabwe as a strategic partner.
"Zimbabwe is an important country in Southern Africa, It has a beautiful landscape and rich natural resources. Its people are industrious and talented," he added.
Yang said his visit deepened the commitment of China to further bolster relations with Zimbabwe.
"China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to further enhance political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and steadily elevate our friendship and co-operation," the statement said.
"With concerted efforts from both sides, this visit will produce positive results and take China-Zimbabwe friendship and co-operative relations to a higher level."
During Yang's stay in the country, the two sides are expected to ink various investment deals in a move expected to add impetus to the southern African country's efforts to revive its economy.
The visit comes on the back of pronouncements last month that China was eager to invest nearly US$10 billion in key sectors of the economy, including mining and agriculture.
In addition, the Zimbabwe government is considering requesting for a US$3.0 billion loan from Beijing to be repaid using the country's mineral wealth.
China has emerged as Zimbabwe's largest trading partner since the West imposed sanctions on Harare in 2003 to punish it for agrarian reforms that restored land to the black people who had been dispossessed by previous colonial governments.
Through its "Look East" policy, which the Zimbabwe government adopted to weather effects of illegal sanctions, trade between China and Zimbabwe has risen steadily, hitting the US$520 million mark last year and the Zimbabwe government is optimistic that trade can further shoot up to US$1.0 billion annually.
Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi received Yang, who is leading an 11-member delegation, on arrival at the Harare International Airport Thursday.
Yang was immediately whisked away to a local hotel where he will be staying.
In an arrival statement handed to journalists who had gathered to interview him, Yang said China considered Zimbabwe as a strategic partner.
"Zimbabwe is an important country in Southern Africa, It has a beautiful landscape and rich natural resources. Its people are industrious and talented," he added.
Yang said his visit deepened the commitment of China to further bolster relations with Zimbabwe.
"China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to further enhance political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and steadily elevate our friendship and co-operation," the statement said.
"With concerted efforts from both sides, this visit will produce positive results and take China-Zimbabwe friendship and co-operative relations to a higher level."
During Yang's stay in the country, the two sides are expected to ink various investment deals in a move expected to add impetus to the southern African country's efforts to revive its economy.
The visit comes on the back of pronouncements last month that China was eager to invest nearly US$10 billion in key sectors of the economy, including mining and agriculture.
In addition, the Zimbabwe government is considering requesting for a US$3.0 billion loan from Beijing to be repaid using the country's mineral wealth.
China has emerged as Zimbabwe's largest trading partner since the West imposed sanctions on Harare in 2003 to punish it for agrarian reforms that restored land to the black people who had been dispossessed by previous colonial governments.
Through its "Look East" policy, which the Zimbabwe government adopted to weather effects of illegal sanctions, trade between China and Zimbabwe has risen steadily, hitting the US$520 million mark last year and the Zimbabwe government is optimistic that trade can further shoot up to US$1.0 billion annually.
Source - New Ziana
