Sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe by Western
countries have no justification in international law and impede the country’s
development, Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister and State Councillor Mr Wang Yi
has said.
He said China was confident Zimbabwe would successfully
solve its economic challenges.
Mr Wang, who arrived here on Saturday night, stressed at a
Press conference yesterday after a meeting with Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo: “The unilateral sanctions imposed
by some countries and organisations on Zimbabwe have no basis in international
law and they violate the legitimate development rights of Zimbabwe. China fully
supports the just aspirations of Zimbabwe and African countries to quickly
remove those sanctions on Zimbabwe.”
Mr Wang is in Zimbabwe on the last leg of his five-nation
tour that has seen him visit Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea and Burundi.
Minister Moyo described the meeting with his Chinese
counterpart as having been successful.
“We discussed a number of issues ranging from our own
political, economic, social, cultural and other matters which are well embedded
in our mutual interest and I can tell you that the meeting was very successful
and we are looking forward to getting to greater heights between Zimbabwe and
China,” he said.
Mr Wang’s call against the illegal sanctions dovetails with
a resolution by Sadc and endorsed by the African Union that the embargo has
negatively affected the economy and brought untold suffering to ordinary
people.
Sadc Heads of State also took up the matter during last
year’s United Nations General Assembly, lobbying the international community to
call for the removal of the two-decades long sanctions regime.
Mr Wang said Zimbabwe had the capacity to come out of the
economic challenges it was facing.
“Our two sides need to uphold the win-win cooperation in
infrastructure, agriculture and mining and meanwhile explore new areas of
growth in our cooperation. The Chinese side understands the difficulties and
bottlenecks faced by Zimbabwe, but we trust that
Zimbabwe has the wisdom and capabilities to address these
challenges and, as Zimbabwe’s good friend, we are also prepared to provide
policy consultations and experiences we had based on Zimbabwe’s will,” he said.
Speaking on the role of China and Zimbabwe he said: “Our
countries have a big role to play by working together, in a world full of
uncertainty. Both China and Zimbabwe stand on the right side of history, on the
side of equity and justice and on the side of developing countries.
“Both countries believe in the equality of nations
irrespective of their size and reject the bullying of the weak. Both of us
believe in win-win situations for our countries and reject zero-sum game. Both
of us believe in multilateralism and the basic norms upholding international
relations and reject unilateralism and bullying practices,” he said.
Mr Wang said he and Minister Moyo discussed issues related
to relations between the two countries.
“In recent years, thanks to the joint support and guidance
of President XI Jinping and President Mnangagwa, China-Zimbabwe relations have
made fruitful results and create important opportunities,” he said.
“I am here with the primary goal to further implement the
important agreement between the two Presidents and the outcomes of the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and to further deepen the
comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Zimbabwe.
We had a productive meeting with Minister Moyo here and we reached so many
important agreements.
“Over the past four decades, China-Zimbabwe relations have
stood big tests and stormy weathers and both sides have stood firmly by this
friendship. The most fundamental aspect of that friendship is the mutual
respect and support we have given each other all along. China supports
Zimbabwe’s resolve to uphold national dignity and we support Zimbabwe’s efforts
to independently explore a development path suited to its national conditions.
We also appreciate Zimbabwe giving priority to China-Zimbabwe relations in its
diplomacy and we also thank Zimbabwe for the invaluable support it has given
China on our core interests. We are prepared to always be good friends and good
partners with Zimbabwe.”
In his opening address before the closed-door meeting,
Minister Moyo thanked China for the assistance it has rendered to the country.
“Zimbabwe greatly appreciates the support that it has
received from China in implementing projects that are key in its development
and will contribute to the attainment of middle income economy status by 2030.
“Several projects such as Victoria Falls Airport, Kariba
Expansion have already been completed and tangible results are being seen. Not
only has China extended support through project implementation, but has also
provided humanitarian assistance following cyclone Idai and El Nino-induced
drought,” Minister Moyo said.
Yesterday’s meeting was also attended by Finance and
Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, Local Government and Public Works
Minister July Moyo, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza, Lands,
Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri and
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu. Herald
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