ED, Xi knuckle down to business
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will today meet his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, following his arrival in Beijing yesterday for a five-day State visit. This is President Mnangagwa’s first State visit outside Africa at the invitation of Mr Xi.
Today’s meeting will focus on political and economic developments as the two leaders consolidate their countries’ relationship.
President Mnangagwa, who is accompanied by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, several Cabinet ministers and private sector excutives, will also meet officials of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese business community.
Government officials accompanying the President include his Special Advisor, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa; Finance Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa, Industry and Commerce Minister Cde Mike Bimha, Minister of Transport Cde Joram Gumbo and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Cde Prisca Mupfumira.
Information, Communication and Technology Minister Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba also form part of the Presidential delegation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Sibusiso Moyo, Energy and Power Development Minister Simon Khaya Moyo, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri were part of the advance party that received the President yesterday.
He was met at the Beijing Capital International Airport by Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiaodong, the special envoy who visited Zimbabwe last month to invite the President to the Asian
country.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Huang Ping was also at the airport to receive the President.
A number of economic deals across most sectors of the economy are expected to be clinched as the world’s second largest economy moves to help resuscitate Zimbabwe’s economy, weighed down by years of Western sanctions.
This is President Mnangagwa’s first State visit outside Africa. He has said after briefing Sadc Heads of State and Government on political and economic developments in Zimbabwe, he would visit Zimbabwe’s allies abroad.
He is scheduled to visit the provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang to meet with the political leadership and the business community from the two
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa got down to serious business yesterday on touching down at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Straight from the airport he received a courtesy call from China’s Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Mr Li Songfa.
He then met business executives from XCMG, an earthmoving equipment manufacturing firm and CGMC officials, among others.
The closed door meetings were attended by all the ministers that are part of President Mnangagwa’s delegation who include Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo (Retired), Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Energy and Power Development Minister Simon Khaya Moyo, Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Minister Supa Mandiwanzira, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who is also Zanu-PF’s national chairwoman, and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira.
While the long trip from Zimbabwe may have been taxing, President Mnangagwa would not take time to rest until he had fulfilled all his scheduled meetings.
Since assuming office last November, the President has
displayed a consistent ethic as he spearheads efforts to restore Zimbabwe’s economy.
Many in Government trail his passion to get things done at the earliest possible time.
It has been reported that he is usually in office well before 8am everyday while he remains the last man standing at the end of the day.
Today, President Mnangagwa
will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and a State banquet will be hosted in his honour.
He will also attend a business forum early in the morning, among a number of scheduled meetings and activities throughout the day.
The five-day State visit is certainly no holiday for the President and his entourage. Zimbabwe means business.