Chinese, South African Presidents Hold Talks to Cement Partnership

On December 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Harare for a state visit to Zimbabwe at the invitation of President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan describing them as “true and dear friends of the people of Zimbabwe”. “However, it is also our duty to tell the good story that would help change the negative narrative to an Africa that is a land of opportunities and potential”, he said.

“In more than 35 years, we have not built a new power station”.

This was evident in the Zimbabwean visit, where Xi signed several investment deals involving key sectors, including power generation, construction and communications.

The Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed 10 investment deals with Zimbabwe on Tuesday evening, pledging to continue cooperating with the investment-hungry country as it attempts to reverse a prolonged economic meltdown.

China’s overall trade with Africa topped $200 billion last year but has slowed over the past two years as the weakening Chinese economy demands less of the continent’s raw materials, including oil and copper.

“The Chinese are becoming strong in terms of their investments in Zimbabwe”.

After their talks, Xi and Zuma also witnessed the signing of documents on cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, culture, science and technology.

To see China’s evolving foreign policy, look to Africa, where a desire to protect economic investment is leading to a revision of the country’s hands-off approach to the internal affairs of other nations.

The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said last month that the country’s investment in Africa fell by more than 40 percent in the first half of 2015.

Mr Xi and a large Chinese delegation will fly to South Africa on Wednesday, where he will attend the first China-Africa summit to be held in Africa. Xi’s visit comes ahead of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, a meeting that brings together African and Chinese leaders every three years.

Today China is Zimbabwe’s top source of foreign investment and has helped the country with a number of infrastructure projects.

The foundation of the China-Africa friendship lies in the people, and the media are an important channel for both sides to communicate and learn from each other, Xi said in his congratulatory message.

“China lauded the role Mugabe has played in safeguarding African unity and promoting development of the continent as the rotating chairman of the African Union”, said Xi in a snub to Western nations who have imposed sanctions on leaders in the country, including Mugabe himself. Africa has become China’s second-biggest overseas market for contracted engineering services, Qian said.

A statement by the worldwide relations department this week said total trade between South Africa and China grew from R118 billion in 2009 to R271 billion by the end of 2013.

The FOCAC platform is based on the principles of South-South cooperation and mutual and equal benefit, with a view to addressing various areas of concern for Africa’s socio-economic development and integration.