On April 18, 2020, President Xi Jinping and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa exchanged congratulatory messages over the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Zimbabwe diplomatic relations.

In his message, Xi Jinping pointed out, China and Zimbabwe have always adhered to mutual trust and mutual support, and bilateral relations have withstood the test of time and the vicissitudes of the international situation over the past four decades since the two countries established diplomatic relations. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and I have reached the important consensus on establishing and developing the China-Zimbabwe comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Attaching great importance to the development of China-Zimbabwe relations, I am willing to make joint efforts with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take the 40th anniversary as an opportunity to promote the close alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative, the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the realization of Zimbabwe's "Vision 2030," expand practical cooperation in various fields, and offer each other stronger support on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns. Under current circumstances, the Chinese side stands ready to boost cooperation with the Zimbabwean side to overcome the ongoing challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Emmerson Mnangagwa noted in his message, the past 40 years have demonstrated that sincerity, solidarity, mutual benefit and mutual trust are the prominent features of the brotherly friendship and high-level relations between the two countries. Zimbabwe is steadfast to the One China policy and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Zimbabwean side will continue to resolutely push for deeper development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. In face of the grave challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zimbabwean side is willing to strengthen solidarity and mutual support with the Chinese side to jointly cope with the effects of the coronavirus disease on bilateral cooperation.