News / National
Mugabe off to China
23 Aug 2014 at 18:59hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe has left Harare for China on a state visit that is set to cement the existing bilateral ties between the two countries.
President Mugabe, who is accompanied by the First Lady Grace Mugabe and cabinet ministers who sit in the Zimbabwe-China Joint Permanent Commission as well as senior government officials, was invited to the Asian economic powerhouse by his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
Mugabe and his delegation was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, senior government officials and service chiefs.
The purpose of the visit is to explore areas of cooperation in infrastructure development, telecommunications, broadcasting, energy and road rehabilitation.
Zimbabwe-China relations date back to the days of the liberation struggle when China provided arms and training to the freedom fighters.
The Asian nation was also among the first countries to establish full diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe when the country attained independence in 1980.
China is now one of the largest economic partners of Zimbabwe and bilateral trade has been on an upward trend since then.
China's investment in Zimbabwe reached US$602 million in 2013.
Zimbabwe is also benefitting from the framework of the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation where China has pledged to support infrastructural development and other critical sectors.
President Mugabe, who is accompanied by the First Lady Grace Mugabe and cabinet ministers who sit in the Zimbabwe-China Joint Permanent Commission as well as senior government officials, was invited to the Asian economic powerhouse by his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
Mugabe and his delegation was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, senior government officials and service chiefs.
The purpose of the visit is to explore areas of cooperation in infrastructure development, telecommunications, broadcasting, energy and road rehabilitation.
Zimbabwe-China relations date back to the days of the liberation struggle when China provided arms and training to the freedom fighters.
The Asian nation was also among the first countries to establish full diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe when the country attained independence in 1980.
China is now one of the largest economic partners of Zimbabwe and bilateral trade has been on an upward trend since then.
China's investment in Zimbabwe reached US$602 million in 2013.
Zimbabwe is also benefitting from the framework of the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation where China has pledged to support infrastructural development and other critical sectors.
Source - zbc
