On November 29, 2017, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government and Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, who was visiting Zimbabwe, paid a courtesy call on the new President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Chen Xiaodong delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa in which President Xi Jinping expressed his congratulations once again to President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa on his assumption of office. President Xi Jinping stressed that China and Zimbabwe are good friends, good partners and good brothers who understand and have long been supporting each other. Bilateral relations have withstood the passing of time and the changing of international landscape. China firmly supports Zimbabwe in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and believes that the Zimbabwean government and people have the wisdom and capacity to well handle their domestic affairs. China will adhere to the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, as well as strengthen its cooperation with Zimbabwe on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China will continue assisting Zimbabwe in its economic and social development and the improvement of people's life within China's due capacity. President Xi Jinping expressed the willingness to make joint efforts with President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to push forward the continuous development of China-Zimbabwe relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields to better benefit the two countries and two peoples. President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is welcomed to visit China at a time convenient to both sides.

President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa expressed his sincere thanks for President Xi Jinping's congratulations and asked Chen Xiaodong to convey his warm regards and best wishes to President Xi Jinping. President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa said that Special Envoy of the Chinese government is the first foreign envoy he received after assuming his post as President, which speaks volumes for the ever-strengthening and special friendship between Zimbabwe and China. The Zimbabwean government and people will not forget the long-term selfless assistance China has provided for Zimbabwe and the precious support China has given in the critical period of national development of Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa spoke highly of the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between the two countries.

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa stressed that Zimbabwe attaches great importance to the development of Zimbabwe-China relations and China will be the first country he visits outside Africa. Zimbabwe is willing to work with China to inherit and carry forward bilateral traditional friendship and actively expand practical cooperation in various fields so as to push for better and faster development of Zimbabwe-China relations in the new era.

During his visit, Chen Xiaodong also met with Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces General Constantine Guveya Chiwenga and Acting Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi respectively, exchanging in-depth views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.