Zimbabwe

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The traditional and friendly relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Zimbabwe maintained steady and healthy growth in 2013.

Frequent exchanges were conducted at the top level and between different departments. On 7 August, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to President Robert Gabriel Mugabe on his reelection. Vice Premier Wang Yang paid an official visit to Zimbabwe from 21 to 23 May. He met with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Vice President Joyce Mujuru. The two sides exchanged views on further growing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and other cooperation documents. From 28 July to 3 August, at the invitation of the Zimbabwean government, an observer mission of the Chinese government observed the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections in Zimbabwe. From 20 to 24 August, Li Liguo, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping and Minister of Civil Affairs visited Zimbabwe. He attended the inauguration ceremony of President Mugabe and met with the President. On 14 March, President Mugabe sent a congratulatory letter to Xi Jinping on his election as the Chinese President.

In 2013, a number of Chinese officials visited Zimbabwe, including Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Chairman Shao Qiwei of China National Tourism Administration, Deputy Governor Liang Weiguo of Anhui Province, and Deputy Governor Pan Liguo of Liaoning Province. Zimbabwe's Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Transport Nicholas Goche, and Minister of Finance Tendai Biti visited China.

Business cooperation yielded fruitful results. Smooth progress was made in the Chinese-aided projects. Three sets of container inspection devices were delivered to the Zimbabwean side. Translation and audio equipment was provided to the 20th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly hosted by Zimbabwe. Bilateral trade enjoyed steady growth. Cooperation continued to expand in the areas of infrastructure building, agriculture and mining. The Export and Import Bank of China and the Zimbabwean government signed the agreement on providing loans to the expansion work of Kariba South Hydropower Station. The water and sewage rehabilitation of Harare City was officially launched, implemented with loans from the Export and Import Bank of China.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges achieved splendid results. In February, the "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" art troupe made a visit to Zimbabwe, organized by the State Council Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. In August, the Shenzhen Municipal Singing and Dancing Troupe visited Zimbabwe, and participated in the art performance of the 20th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly and the inaugural ceremony of the Zimbabwean president. In November, the fourth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Legal Forum was held in Zimbabwe. The 13th Chinese medical team arrived in Zimbabwe and started its work. The Confucius Institute and five Confucius Classrooms in Zimbabwe enjoyed greater influence, with an enrollment of nearly 800.