Trade and economic relations between Zimbabwe-China are expected to grow this year following the full implementation of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, a senior Chinese official has said.

A member of the Foreign Affairs Policy Advisory Group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Ambassador Ji Peiding, said China is committed to enhancing co-operation with Zimbabwe and other African countries.

"This year marks the beginning of the various follow-up actions of the fourth ministerial conference of FOCAC," said Ambassador Ji Peiding at a seminar on China-Africa relations.

Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao has since announced China’s eight new measures to intensify co-operation with Africa and Zimbabwe is likely to benefit as it seeks to cover climate change, science and technology, more concessional loans and debt reduction.

Zimbabwe is struggling to clear its international debt amounting to more than US$5,6 billion. However, Government is coming up with debt clearance strategies to clear debts.

FOCAC is a banner of Chinese-African friendship and has become an important platform for collective dialogue between the two parties to enhance pragmatic co-operation with the continent.

Over the years, the forum has shown great vitality and vigour and brought about substantial and extensive benefit to both sides.

China has got a long-standing trade history with Africa, Zimbabwe included, dating back over 2 000 years ago.

The commitment by the Chinese government to support Zimbabwe comes at a time when the country is recovering from a 10-year economic recession.

Increased co-operation between the two countries under FOCAC is expected in the energy sector, information communication technology, infrastructure and health sectors.

Zimbabwe’s economic recovery is also expected to be spurred through engaging China as Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to chip in with a US$950 million loan to support the country’s economic recovery.

The country adopted the Look East Policy in 2003 following a diplomatic fallout with Britain and some Western countries when the Government embarked on land reform.

China has undertaken more than 900 projects in African countries and cancelled 310 debts for 35 African countries in the last 10 years.

In 2008 the trade volume reached US$106,84 billion and nearly 1 600 Chinese companies have landed their business operations in Africa.

Over the years, China has dispatched 16 000 medical personnel to 45 African countries, who treated over a hundred million patients.

In the past three years, the Chinese side has retained more than 15 000 personnel of different professions for Africa.

In 2009 alone, 4 000 African students received Chinese government scholarships and studied in China.

Mr Ji maintained that the co-operation is of mutual benefit and is a win-win venture in line with market rules and international practices.

"Bringing the strength of China and Africa together, it will help China and Africa build up the capacity of independent development and facilitate common development of both sides," he said.

China has contributed 20 percent to the growth of African economy in the recent years.

Copyright: The Herald