Thursday, March 08, 2012

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe Meets Chinese Delegation

President meets Chinese delegation

Thursday, 08 March 2012 00:00
Herald Reporter

President Mugabe says Zimbabwe will stand by China even when the West denounced the emerging superpower.

At a meeting with the visiting Chinese Defence Forces delegation led by Admiral Tong Shiping at Zanu-PF Headquarters yesterday, President Mugabe said relations between the two countries have continued to grow since the days of the liberation struggle.

“We welcome you to Zimbabwe in recognition of the close and warm relations between us and the people of China.

“We have supported China when the West was denouncing China and we will continue working with (your) country,” he said.

President Mugabe said most Western countries have also turned towards China as their economies crumble.

He said China provided Zimbabwe with military equipment that led to the eventual independence of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga said the Chinese delegation was on a goodwill mission in Zimbabwe.

“They are in Zimbabwe on a goodwill mission to meet the country’s leadership and the military leaders in the country.

“We have had a series of very successful meetings with the delegation,” he said.

Admiral Tong said his visit to Zimbabwe seeks to further promote and strengthen relations between the countries.

“We hope to learn from the people of Zimbabwe. We have experienced the very sincere friendship of the Zimbabwean people to the Chinese.

“Our wishes are that in the future the relations between our people will be further strengthened,” he said.

The Chinese delegation, which is on three-day working visit have visited various areas including the National Defence College.

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa hosted a dinner for the delegation.

No comments: