News / National
Zimbabwe and China sign four agreements
06 Apr 2012 at 06:42hrs | Views
The Republic of China has pledged to assist Zimbabwe to the tune of over US$170 million through infrastructural development and the funding of health and broadcasting sectors.
The pledge necessitated the signing of four agreements of co-operation by the two countries in areas which include health, broadcasting and infrastructural development.
Speaking during the signing ceremony witnessed by the visiting Chinese Premier, Hui Liang Yu and his delegation, Vice President Joice Mujuru commended the deepening relations between Zimbabwe and China especially in the mining and infrastructural development sectors, which are critical in economic revival.
"We are happy with the growing economic ties between our two countries. China's participation in mining and infrastructural development is critical and this pledge has come at a right time as the nation prepares to host the UNWTO General Assembly," said Mujuru.
The Chinese Vice Premier expressed his country's commitment to continue supporting Zimbabwe which has been its closest ally for a long time.
"We consider that our friendship is based on a win-win situation. We support Zimbabwe because we know it has great potential," Yu said.
Meanwhile, the visiting Chinese Vice Premier also met with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who acknowledged the critical role China is playing in the country's reconstruction phase.
"The existing ties between Zimbabwe and China should always be applauded, considering that we are in a reconstruction phase," Tsvangirai said.
A total of US$160 million has been allocated to the upgrading of the Victoria Falls Airport and completion of its runway while US$12,5 million will be spent on other agreed economic projects.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is also benefitting from the growing bilateral ties as China will provide an outside broadcasting van which is valued at the cost of US$5 million.
The health sector will also get US$700 000.
Zimbabwe is now benefitting from the framework of the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation where China pledged to support infrastructural development and other critical sectors.
Meanwhile, Acting President John Landa Nkomo has emphasised the need for follow-ups on agreements sealed between Zimbabwe and the People's Republic of China to ensure that projects under those agreements yield tangible benefits for the ordinary people.
Nkomo was speaking after meeting the visiting Chinese Vice Premier, Hui Liang Yu at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare this Thursday afternoon.
Nkomo hailed the strong ties between Zimbabwe and China, describing the relationship as a strong bridge that sustains the two nations.
He encouraged the private and public sectors as well as individual entrepreneurs and other entities to continuously look for new areas of joint ventures, saying the two countries have a lot to offer to each other.
After independence, Zimbabwe and China strengthened economic cooperation, with the former adopting the Look East Policy to bust the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by Britain and its allies.
Agriculture, mining, tourism, education, arts and culture are some of the sectors that have benefitted from the Sino-Zimbabwe cooperation.
The pledge necessitated the signing of four agreements of co-operation by the two countries in areas which include health, broadcasting and infrastructural development.
Speaking during the signing ceremony witnessed by the visiting Chinese Premier, Hui Liang Yu and his delegation, Vice President Joice Mujuru commended the deepening relations between Zimbabwe and China especially in the mining and infrastructural development sectors, which are critical in economic revival.
"We are happy with the growing economic ties between our two countries. China's participation in mining and infrastructural development is critical and this pledge has come at a right time as the nation prepares to host the UNWTO General Assembly," said Mujuru.
The Chinese Vice Premier expressed his country's commitment to continue supporting Zimbabwe which has been its closest ally for a long time.
"We consider that our friendship is based on a win-win situation. We support Zimbabwe because we know it has great potential," Yu said.
Meanwhile, the visiting Chinese Vice Premier also met with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who acknowledged the critical role China is playing in the country's reconstruction phase.
"The existing ties between Zimbabwe and China should always be applauded, considering that we are in a reconstruction phase," Tsvangirai said.
A total of US$160 million has been allocated to the upgrading of the Victoria Falls Airport and completion of its runway while US$12,5 million will be spent on other agreed economic projects.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is also benefitting from the growing bilateral ties as China will provide an outside broadcasting van which is valued at the cost of US$5 million.
The health sector will also get US$700 000.
Zimbabwe is now benefitting from the framework of the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation where China pledged to support infrastructural development and other critical sectors.
Meanwhile, Acting President John Landa Nkomo has emphasised the need for follow-ups on agreements sealed between Zimbabwe and the People's Republic of China to ensure that projects under those agreements yield tangible benefits for the ordinary people.
Nkomo was speaking after meeting the visiting Chinese Vice Premier, Hui Liang Yu at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare this Thursday afternoon.
Nkomo hailed the strong ties between Zimbabwe and China, describing the relationship as a strong bridge that sustains the two nations.
He encouraged the private and public sectors as well as individual entrepreneurs and other entities to continuously look for new areas of joint ventures, saying the two countries have a lot to offer to each other.
After independence, Zimbabwe and China strengthened economic cooperation, with the former adopting the Look East Policy to bust the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by Britain and its allies.
Agriculture, mining, tourism, education, arts and culture are some of the sectors that have benefitted from the Sino-Zimbabwe cooperation.
Source - ZBC
