Story by Josephine Mugiyo in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a state banquet for African heads of state who have converged in Beijing ahead of the official opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) this Thursday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is among the heads of state who attended the banquet.
FOCAC is an opportunity for China and African nations to explore possible areas of cooperation with emphasis on win-win partnerships as the Asian giant has become a reliable development partner for Africa.
Earlier on, President Mnangagwa engaged in a question-and-answer session with Chinese Central Media Television.
With attention drawn to the issue of FOCAC, President Mnangagwa said the meeting provides a platform for China and Africa to share ideas.
He highlighted developmental projects that have been implemented in several African countries since 2018.
“It’s an occasion. Where both China and Africa share challenges which we face, the successes which we are scoring together because we’re all determined to have a future that uplifts the lives of our people. If we look at the last conference we held at n 2018 and today there’s been tremendous transformation in our respective countries because we are all determined to modernise our respective countries, to industrialise our respective countries,” explained President Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe and China have since signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote media cooperation between China Media Group and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
“It is my view, it could be biased, but if you listen to the Chinese media, you’re always promoting your country, but in African countries the media has external influence and they begin to criticize, they are comparing themselves with a foreign situation. The media mostly anchors itself on the basis of what is available and promote their own country, the media must give confidence to every child, to every citizen,” President Mnangagwa added.
Meanwhile, the President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa, where discussions centred on the need to strengthen relations between the two countries.
“The meeting saw us discussing the need to strengthen relations between Comoros and Zimbabwe. I also used the opportunity to congratulate President Mnangagwa on his assumption of the SADC chairmanship. We also looked at the issue of Comoros remaining a member of SADC,” said President Assoumani.
President Mnangagwa will join fellow Presidents from Africa for the FOCAC official opening ceremony this Thursday.
