Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
CHINA’s Jiangsu province is seeking ways of strengthening bilateral relations by committing to implement infrastructure, bio-medicine and solar projects in Zimbabwe.
The Jiangsu provincial delegation led by Executive Vice Governor, Mr Ma Xin paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare this Monday.
The visit is a follow-up to last year’s state visit by President Mnangagwa and his delegation to China and the subsequent attendance of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Speaking after a closed-door meeting, Head of Chancery at the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, Mr Cheng Yan highlighted Jiangsu province’s commitment to the implementation of various projects agreed last year by the two countries’ leaders.
“The delegation is coming to commit themselves to strengthen and deepen cooperation with Zimbabwe, especially in areas such as the infrastructure, the biomedicine, and the solar power supply, which is a strong area of this Jiangsu province. Jiangsu province is the second biggest economy in China provincially,” he said.
“We believe there is a lot of potential to deepen our collaboration and cooperation with Zimbabwe. We are looking forward to more and more detailed fruits between the Jiangsu province and Zimbabwe-lined ministries and local government. This kind of cooperation is in good prospects,” he said.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy cordial relations which date back to the time of the liberation struggle.
To cement this relationship, China funded the implementation of several infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe, which include the Mt Hampden Parliament Building, and the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Expansion project.
