On February 9 local time, State Councilor Yang Jiechi held talks with Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko of Zimbabwe in Harare.

Yang Jiechi first conveyed sincere greetings from Vice President Li Yuanchao. Phelekezela Mphoko expressed gratitude, and also asked Yang Jiechi to convey his best wishes to Vice President Li Yuanchao.

Yang Jiechi said that China-Zimbabwe brotherhood has withstood the test of international vicissitudes and become even stronger as time goes by, and bilateral cooperation in all fields is yielding fruitful results. The main purpose of my visit is to promote the implementation of the picture for China-Zimbabwe relations jointly blueprinted by President Xi Jinping and President Robert Mugabe, and to deeply discuss and connect specific measures with Zimbabwe for comprehensively deepening bilateral friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Yang Jiechi pointed out that with the joint efforts of both sides, the outcome of President Robert Mugabe’s visit to China last August is under smooth implementation. At present, Zimbabwe is committed to implementing the “Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation”, while China is comprehensively transforming its economy and upgrading its industries, therefore, bilateral cooperation embraces an important opportunity with a broad prospect. Both sides should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhance mutual political trust and communication on governance and administration of state affairs, and continue offering mutual support on issues regarding each other’s core interests and major concerns; expand mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen the synergy of bilateral development strategies, and actively carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in such sectors as agriculture, mining, processing, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, finance, and human resource development. It is hoped that Zimbabwe could provide a sound investment environment for Chinese enterprises. Both countries should also expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, facilitate tourism cooperation, intensify mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, boost cooperation and coordination in regional and international affairs and safeguard the common interests of vast developing countries including those in Africa.

Phelekezela Mphoko expressed that Zimbabwe and China have supported and helped each other as early as the struggle for national liberation. Zimbabwe is grateful for China’s long-term support for its economic development, attaches great importance to its friendly relations with China and will work with China to push bilateral relations to new highs. Zimbabwe hopes to, together with China, maintain high-level exchanges and continue deepening practical cooperation in such areas as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, electric power, transportation, tourism and personnel training, thus to boost the industrial development and enhance added value of the products in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will learn from China’s development experience, establish economic special zones and industrial parks and welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest and establish business in the country. Zimbabwe will stick to the One China policy and continue intensifying coordination and cooperation with China in international affairs.