Story by Wadzanai Mhombera
A 32-member Zimbabwean delegation is in Beijing, China, taking part in a two-week Seminar on Culture and Tourism aimed at strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
Organised by the Chinese government, the programme brings together officials and practitioners from Zimbabwe’s culture, tourism and media sectors at a time when relations between Harare and Beijing continue to expand across multiple fields.
The delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and members of the media.
At the heart of the seminar is a shared objective: deepening collaboration in culture, sport and tourism while creating opportunities for both countries to exchange ideas, experiences and best practices.
Beyond the lecture rooms and conference halls of Beijing, delegates will be exposed to China’s cultural, artistic, sporting and tourism infrastructure through a series of visits to key facilities and institutions. The tours are expected to provide first-hand insights into how China has developed and promoted its cultural and tourism sectors while preserving its heritage.
The programme also offers Zimbabwean participants an opportunity to gather ideas that could help strengthen local initiatives and contribute to the growth of the country’s own tourism and cultural industries.
The seminar comes against the backdrop of longstanding relations between Zimbabwe and China, a partnership that stretches back to the liberation struggle and has evolved into one of Zimbabwe’s most significant bilateral relationships.
Over the years, China has emerged as a major partner in Zimbabwe’s development agenda, supporting a range of transformative infrastructure projects that have reshaped key sectors of the economy.
