Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been officially opened by the President of China, Xi Jinping who called for bilateral relations with African countries to be elevated to strategic relations with mutual benefits.
Brought together by shared goals of pursuing development and modernisation, heads of state from across Africa met the leader of the host country in Beijing on Thursday with the meetings set to spill into Friday.
The forum has become a platform to share ideas and create partnerships between China and Africa.
“Bilateral relations between China and all Africa in countries with diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations and that the overall characterisation of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China Africa community with a shared future for a new era,” he said.
President Xi said China and Africa should pursue the modernisation agenda that is just and equitable and comes with mutual benefits of modernisation that put the people first.
“We want modernisation that features diversity and Inclusiveness, eco-friendly and underpinned by peace and security,” he added.
President Xi also noted that in the next three years, China will work with Africa in partnerships that include education, trade and industrial value chain co-operation.
After the official opening, President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a meeting on ‘Strengthening the Exchange of Experience on Governance and Exploring Paths to Modernisation’.
He said as Africa and China pursue co-operation, they must leverage on their combined population of about 2.8 billion in terms of trade and cooperation.
“His Excellency President Xi Jinping highlighted that together China and present a population of about 2.8 billion. This strength in numbers is indeed beneficial concerning markets and the stronger voice of the global south. Most importantly, the Africa and China bloc provides an endless spring of shared ideas, knowledge, cultures, values and principles of a better future for all.”
President Mnangagwa said the world has been changing with incredible speed hence the need for interdependence.
“Multilateralism is taking a new form, hence entrenching sustainable governance system must be guided by defining country characteristics and unique identities,” he added.
President Mnangagwa also used the platform to highlight the strides that Zimbabwe has made in promoting science and technology as well as spurring development that serves the people.
Since attending the 2018 forum, Zimbabwe has partnered with the Chinese government and entities in key infrastructure projects which include the construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden and the expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
