Story by Online Reporter
CHINA has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening military, economic and diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe, describing the two countries’ partnership as one rooted in a shared liberation history, mutual respect and common development goals.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Zhou Ding, made the remarks at a reception held at the Chinese Embassy in Harare this Friday to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The commemorations were attended by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Emmanuel Matatu, Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Monica Mavhunga, senior government officials, Members of Parliament, diplomats, senior military officers and liberation war veterans.
Addressing guests, Ambassador Ding said the longstanding friendship between China and Zimbabwe had evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership extending beyond defence cooperation to trade, investment and international affairs.
“The past 99 years have witnessed an extraordinary journey of the PLA. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA has fought relentlessly to secure China’s liberation, sovereignty, territorial integrity and developmental interests, and has contributed to world peace and stability. It is, and always has been, a people’s army: of the people, by the people, for the people,” he said.
Ambassador Ding paid tribute to Zimbabwe’s liberation heroes and highlighted the historical ties between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Zimbabwe’s liberation movement, noting that China had supported Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle through diplomatic backing, military training and material assistance.
“China stood firmly alongside Zimbabwe throughout its arduous liberation struggle against colonial rule, offering not only diplomatic backing, weapons assistance and professional military training, but above all, a people-centred revolutionary philosophy,” Zhou said.
Quoting the Shona proverb “Simba rehove riri mumvura” (the strength of the fish comes from the water), Ambassador Ding said the saying reflected the close relationship between the military and the people, a principle he said underpinned both countries’ armed forces.
He paid tribute to Zimbabwean liberation icons, including Cde Herbert Chitepo and General Josiah Tongogara, saying they formed part of a generation of leaders whose sacrifices strengthened the historic friendship between China and Zimbabwe.
The ambassador also highlighted the personal ties between President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa and China, recalling the President’s visits to China in 2024 and 2025, during which he revisited the Nanjing Army Command College where he underwent military and political training in the early 1960s.
“The profound personal bonds that President Mnangagwa and his fellow veterans have forged with China stand as a vivid and compelling testament to the fraternal military and state-to-state ties between our two nations,” Ambassador Ding said.
He further referred to a letter sent earlier this year by Chinese President Xi Jinping to a group of Zimbabwean liberation war veterans, in which President Xi commended their contribution to Zimbabwe’s independence and encouraged them to continue promoting friendship between China, Zimbabwe and Africa.
“As a follow-up to the exchange of correspondence between the Chinese President and the Zimbabwean veterans, we were glad to facilitate a visit earlier this month by Hon. Minister Monica Mavhunga, together with a delegation of distinguished veterans, to China,” Ambassador Ding said.
“During the visit, they retraced the revolutionary footsteps of their youth and those of our shared heroes. This trip represents our tribute to these veterans and our deep gratitude for their invaluable contributions not only to Zimbabwe’s independence, but also to the enduring friendship between our two nations.”
Turning to military cooperation, Ambassador Zhou said defence relations between the People’s Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces had continued to expand through training, logistics support and strategic cooperation.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are both people’s armies, forged in revolutionary struggles and hardened by immense challenges. We take pride in the growing strategic coordination and practical cooperation between our two militaries, including training and logistics, which have tangibly boosted Zimbabwe’s military capacity,” he said.
Beyond defence cooperation, Ambassador Ding said bilateral relations had continued to deliver benefits across several sectors, including infrastructure, industry and trade.
He said China remained Zimbabwe’s largest source of foreign direct investment and one of its most important trading partners, adding that Chinese investment had contributed to improvements in electricity generation, transport infrastructure and industrial development.
“Growing Chinese investment and thriving bilateral trade have upgraded Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and expanded its industrial base, delivering remarkable improvements in power supply and transportation, and building the country into a regional manufacturing hub for steel, tiles, and soon cement and fertilisers,” he said.
On international affairs, Ambassador Ding said China would continue working with Zimbabwe to promote multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation.
He welcomed Zimbabwe’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, saying the two countries shared a commitment to advancing international fairness and justice.
“Faced with complex and evolving global challenges, China is committed to working with Zimbabwe and all peace-loving nations to advance a just, orderly multipolar world and promote inclusive, universally beneficial economic globalisation,” Ambassador Ding said.
Reaffirming China’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s development agenda, the ambassador said Beijing would remain a dependable partner as Zimbabwe pursues its National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030 objectives.
“Rooted in profound revolutionary camaraderie, consolidated by equality and mutual respect, and energised by win-win cooperation, our partnership will grow stronger and stronger. As Zimbabwe advances its NDS2 and Vision 2030, China will remain its most reliable and steadfast partner, today, tomorrow and always,” he said.
The reception formed part of the annual commemorations marking the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, established on 1 August 1927, and celebrated nearly a century of China’s military development and its longstanding defence relations with Zimbabwe.
