Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding on Friday officiated at the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Harare. Below are excerpts from his speech.
It is my profound honor to welcome all of you here as we gather to celebrate two remarkable milestones: the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe.
First of all, please allow me to extend my appreciation to the CIUZ choir for their beautiful rendition of the national anthems of both China and Zimbabwe.
I trust you all share my excitement after watching the video clip, which vividly captures the memorable moments in our bilateral ties this past year.
Each and every event stands as a testament to our collective efforts and shared commitment.
Reflecting on these achievements fills me with immense pride, joy, and gratitude.
None of this shared success would have been possible without the dedication of individuals and friends like you.
Seventy-six years ago, after breaking free from the shackles of foreign aggression and internal turmoil, China embarked on a new historic journey—one that has led to a transformation and development pace unparalleled in modern history.
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Guided by a people-centered development approach and the Chinese path to modernization, China has lifted nearly one billion people out of poverty and established the world’s largest public health and education systems.
Today, China stands as the world’s second-largest economy, the largest trader of goods, a global manufacturing hub, and a burgeoning powerhouse in technological innovation.
As a pivotal engine of global economic growth, China not only offers a vast market for products from around the world, but also delivers high-quality, affordable goods which have substantially reduced living costs for consumers globally and helped mitigate inflationary pressures in various economies.
Breakthroughs in China’s renewable technology have slashed the cost of wind power by over 60% and reduced photovoltaic generation expenses by more than 80%, dramatically expanding access to green energy in countries like Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Chinese ICT technology and open-source AI models are helping to bridge the digital divide, empowering people in developing nations and fostering inclusive progress.
China’s development hinges on a peaceful international environment.
Safeguarding peace while promoting common development has always been at the heart of China’s foreign policy.
China firmly upholds the UN-centred international system and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Over the past decade, amid global turbulence and profound transformation, H.E. President Xi Jinping has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, along with the Global Governance Initiative proposed not long ago.
These initiatives are designed to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, foster an equal and orderly multi-polar world, and advance a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.
Just nine days ago, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The Victory Day parade stood as a pledge: the sacrifices of the 35 million Chinese people during the 14 years of resistance will never be forgotten. It also conveyed a clear message: today’s China possesses both the strength and the resolve to safeguard every inch of her territory.
And above all, it was a promise: having endured the trauma of invasion and occupation, China will never inflict such suffering on any other nation.
The triumph achieved 80 years ago was not China's alone—it echoed far beyond its borders, inspiring the people of Zimbabwe and across Africa to rise up against colonialism.
With crucial political and military support from China and other nations, Zimbabwe ultimately achieved its hard-won independence.
To this day, many Zimbabwean freedom fighters who once received training in China and Tanzania still hum Chinese military songs such as “The Three Main Rules of Discipline and the Eight Points for Attention”—a lasting testament to the deep camaraderie between our two sides.
Today, we are especially privileged to be joined by several veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, who received training in China back in the 1970s.
It is an honour to pay my highest tribute to these heroes.
May I kindly ask them to rise, so that we may see and acknowledge them? Ladies and gentlemen, a big round of applause for them, please!
Thank you for your selfless sacrifice and your unwavering friendship. Hope to welcome you back to China again one day!
This year, as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Zimbabwe, we look back on our shared journey with immense pride.
As Chinese ambassador, I feel particularly honoured to have accompanied H.E President ED Mnangagwa on two visits to China, each infusing fresh momentum into our enduring partnership.
Our brotherhood has brought to fruition a great number of landmark projects, including those supported by China-Aid or Chinese government concessional loans: the Hwange Power Station Units 7 and 8, the new Robert Mugabe International Airport, the New Parliament Building, the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse, the 1300-Borehole Project, the High Performance Computing Centre, and the NetOne National Mobile Broadband project—the list goes on and on.
Each stands as a building block in Zimbabwe’s journey toward industrialisation and modernisation.
At the same time, we take great pride in China’s role as Zimbabwe’s largest source of foreign investment and one of its most important trading partners, with cumulative investments reaching around US$4 billion.
Chinese investments in sectors such as steel, lithium, cement, fertilizers, ceramics, home appliances, and ICT infrastructure have significantly enhanced Zimbabwe’s industrial and innovation capabilities, and lowered the cost of living for its people.
In 2024, our bilateral trade surged to US$3.8 billion, with a 24% year-on-year growth.
Our trade and investment cooperation has been a powerful engine for job creation in Zimbabwe, directly and indirectly supporting over one million livelihoods.
In the tobacco sector alone, exports to the Chinese market sustain half a million jobs.
With China’s recent announcement of a zero-tariff policy for all imports from African countries—including Zimbabwe—we are poised to unlock even greater potential.
I look forward to working closely with our Zimbabwean friends to fully leverage this transformative policy, to generate tremendous new jobs for Zimbabwe.
Beyond economic cooperation, the vibrant people-to-people exchanges between our two nations form the very bedrock of our bilateral partnership.
Over the past year, more than 1,000 Zimbabwean officials and professionals have participated in various exchange and capacity-building programs in China.
The 22nd Chinese Medical Team has journeyed across all 10 provinces, delivering free medical services to over 10,000 individuals.
Meanwhile, Chinese agricultural experts have established a new demonstration village dedicated to poverty reduction. Cultural exchanges—from the exhibition of Zimbabwean stone sculpture in China to the Chinese film festival in Zimbabwe, and from football matches in Beijing to friendship games in table tennis and basketball held in Harare—continue to build profound and lasting connections between our peoples.
During H.E. President Mnangagwa’s visit to China, the two heads of state declared to elevate the China-Zimbabwe relationship to an “All-Weather Community with a Shared Future”—building on our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.
This upgrade marks a historic milestone in our bilateral ties and reflects our shared commitment to even deeper, broader cooperation in the years to come.
Guided by H.E. President ED Mnangagwa’s visionary mantra–“Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” and“Zimbabwe is Open for Business”, Zimbabwe is resolutely advancing towards the realization of its Vision 2030.
As an all-weather friend, China firmly stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe.
We support Zimbabwe in advancing industrialisation and modernization, and back its aspiration to play a greater role on the international stage—including in the UN, AU, and Sadc.
Going forward, we will work hand in hand with Zimbabwe to advocate for true multilateralism, safeguard global peace and prosperity, and jointly build an even stronger China-Zimbabwe community with a shared future.
