Minister commends Chinese assistance to Zimbabwe
- Source: Xinhua
- [18:54 September 18 2009]
- Comments
A Zimbabwean government minister has commended China for supporting Zimbabwe at international forums.
According to the daily newspaper The Herald, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan Mudenge lauded China for its aid, noting that Zimbabwe and China's bilateral relations continue to grow.
Mudenge was speaking at the University of Zimbabwe on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
"The emergence of China as a world economic power house and its evolving role in Zimbabwe has raised intense interest especially among western countries," said Mudenge.
"Myths of cultural invasion and political and economic domination are being peddled in certain interested non-African quarters with a known history of culturally and politically dominating Africa."
The anniversary coincided with the launch of the Confucius Institute website at the university that was officially unveiled by Mudenge. The website caters for students studying the Chinese language and culture.
"China has continued to provide Zimbabwe with valuable and strategic support. We are all familiar with the diplomatic support Zimbabwe received from China at the UN during very crucial moments in our continued struggle against imperialism," he said.
China has adopted a deliberate overseas assistance policy through the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which emphasizes mutually beneficial cooperation between China and its African partners, with emphasis on win-win economic partnerships and cultural exchanges.
Relations between China and Zimbabwe date back to the 1960s when China supported the country's liberation struggle.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at Zimbabwe's independence, leading to greater cooperation in economic development, trade, culture, education, health and military affairs.
China also extended lines of credit and concessionary loans to Zimbabwe when many countries in the West imposed economic sanctions on the country.
