Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HARARE, May. 27 (NewsDay Live) – China says it is ready to walk beside Africa as a partner to empower the young generation in to turn its potential into prosperity.
This was said by Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding at the Africa Youth Congress on Africa Day 2025 in Harare on Sunday.
The event, which was attended by Information Communication Technology minister Tatenda Mavetera, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting minister Jenfan Muswere and Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training minister Tino Machakaire was organised under the theme China-Zimbabwe Co-operation on Youth and Agricultural Modernisation.
“Today as we celebrate Africa Day, we are reminded of Africa’s past and its bright future, a future that rests in the hands of its youth,” Zhou said.
Let us remember: China stands ready to walk beside you as a partner, to empower young generation in Africa to turn its potential into prosperity.
“This is why besides building critical infrastructure, China-Africa partnership has always prioritised job creation, knowledge transfer and human resources co-operation.
“Over the past three years, Chinese companies have helped create more than 1,1 million job opportunities in Africa, and our educational exchange programs have facilitated over 12 000 African students to study in China annually.
“Since 2018, more than 3 000 Zimbabwean students have studied in China. About 500 professionals from across sectors have participated in various training programs in China each year.
“A number of Chinese top universities have partnered with renowned educational institutions here including the University of Zimbabwe, Harare Polytechnic Institute, to cultivate applied talents and professionals for Zimbabwe. Our partnership continues to complement Zimbabwean government’s effort in attaining the goals of Heritage-Based Education 5.0.”
He said China and Africa shared friendship forged over decades, rooted in mutual respect, solidarity in anti-colonial struggles and shared aspirations for development.
“Last year’s Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation elevated our relations to a new height. We are now jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, working together toward common development, and demonstrating the unshakable unity among the Global South,” Zhou said.
“China-Africa partnership is founded on mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision of inclusive development. This enduring friendship has grown stronger, deeper, and more fruitful over time.
“So far, China has helped Africa build or upgrade nearly 100 000km of roads, over 10 000km of railways, around 1 000 bridges and 100 ports critical lifelines that connect communities and drive economic integration.
“China has sent medical teams to almost all African countries, providing around 230 million treatments in the past several decades.
“The China-Zimbabwe strategic partnership is the epitome of the broad China-Africa relations. Let me share with you how this partnership has translated into tangible progress for Zimbabwe.
“For many years, China has been Zimbabwe’s largest source of foreign investment and one of its most significant trading partners.
“Our bilateral trade volume reached a historic peak of US$3,8 billion in 2024 — a 23,9% year-on-year increase.”
The Chinese ambassador said his country’s investments continue to grow, “from the airports in Harare and Victoria Falls that connect Zimbabwe to the global markets, to the boreholes that bring clean water to rural villages; from the Hwange and Kariba South power stations that energise the national grid to the Dinson Steel Plant and Titan Energy Complex that boost industrial capacity of Zimbabwe; from medical teams that heal communities to agricultural experts that empower farmers, the China-Zimbabwe partnership proves that true development is not transactional, but transformational.”
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