The team of 12 Chinese medical experts in Zimbabwe to share
knowledge and experiences in the fight against Covid-19 yesterday met President
Mnangagwa at State House, where Zimbabwe’s commitment to deepen bilateral
cooperation with Beijing was restated.
The team arrived on Monday with a large consignment of test
kits and protective equipment required in the fight against the pandemic.
According to Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun,
the team is the first to be sent to a Southern African country by China, not
because the situation in Harare is dire, but due to close bilateral relations
between the two countries.
In his remarks, President Mnangagwa said the medical team
was free to visit all parts of the country to see how best they could assist.
“I want to assure of the readiness of the Government and
people of the Republic of Zimbabwe to work with you and make your stay a
pleasant one in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and China enjoy excellent relations dating
back to the days of our liberation struggle for independence and this gesture
by your working visit attests to the determination by both nations to deepen
bilateral cooperation,” said President Mnangagwa.
“You are therefore at home away from home. Your visit comes
at a time when my country is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. You should
be free to visit wherever you want to visit. Ask
questions you want to ask. We don’t have all the answers
for all your questions but we will do our best to make you understand our
situation so that you know how to assist us.”
President Mnangagwa said he was confident that Zimbabwe’s
medical experts and frontline health personnel would learn from the Chinese
team’s experience in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The experiences will also benefit the region, since member
States are collaborating and coordinating their response.
“I would like to express my deep, profound gratitude to my
dear brother His Excellency Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic
of China for the support he has continuously rendered to the people of Zimbabwe
in the fight against Covid-19. Zimbabwe is under sanctions for nearly two
decades but during the entire period, the People’s Republic of China and now,
in particular, His Excellency President Xi Jinping has stood by us and for that
we feel grateful,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the support that Zimbabwe continues to receive from
China was testimony of the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the
two countries.
Responding to President Mnangagwa’s remarks, Ambassador Guo
said the coming of medical experts was an important action taken by the Chinese
government to support Zimbabwe in the fight against Covid-19.
“In the face of difficulties, we always stand with the
Zimbabwean Government and Zimbabwean people,” he said.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy a Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership of Cooperation and in face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two
countries have been fighting side by side.
Ambassador Guo called on all countries to cooperate with
the World Health Organisation in its efforts to investigate the origins of the
coronavirus. Global scientists have not reached a conclusion regarding the
origins of coronavirus, and Ambassador Guo discouraged people from relying on
conspiracy theories.
Ambassador Guo said the Chinese government was taking good
care for African nationals living China.
The Chinese team comes from Hunan province, and were among
the Chinese medical staff involved in China’s successful battle against the
pandemic almost from the start. Herald
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