Xi praises Mugabe as an ‘old friend’
PRESIDENT Xi Jinping hailed Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe as a renowned African liberation leader and an “old friend” of the Chinese people.
The former guerrilla and Africa’s longest-ruling leader, now 90, was on his 13th trip to China, seeking more investment for his nation’s stagnant economy.
“The traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe was forged in the glorious years when we stood shoulder to shoulder against imperialism, colonialism and hegemony,” Xi told Mugabe at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“The Chinese people value friendship, and we will never forget those good friends and good brothers who have shown mutual understanding and support vis-a-vis China and who have come through thick and thin with us.”
Mugabe said he felt “very much at home,” thanking Xi for the invitation which reminded him of the past and “brings our past to the present.”
Zimbabwe’s relations with China and the Chinese Communist Party date back to the liberation struggle of the 1970s, when Beijing provided arms and trained some of the top guerrilla leaders.
Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted Mugabe and his wife Grace with full military honors.
A band played the two countries’ national anthems as a 21-gun salute was fired and the presidents inspected an honor guard.
Zimbabwe’s state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Mugabe spokesman George Charamba as saying that the five-day state visit was “largely looking for investment of an infrastructure nature,” with the focus on energy and transport.
The two leaders watched as officials signed nine agreements, including some on loans and food donations, but no values were given.
China invested more in non-financial sectors in Zimbabwe than
in any other African country last year, a sum exceeding US$602 million, Xinhua news agency cited Chinese government figures as saying.
Chinese companies are active in mining, construction, telecommunications and agriculture in the country.
At least two China-linked firms, Anjin Investments and Jinan Mining, have operated concessions at Zimbabwe’s hugely valuable Marange diamond fields.
Chinese companies also have interests in platinum and chrome mining.
In addition to meeting Xi, Mugabe’s visit includes talks today with Premier Li Keqiang.
Accompanying Mugabe on his visit are Zimbabwe’s ministers for agriculture, tourism, industry and commerce, and finance and economic development, Xinhua reported.
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