On September 5, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa , who was attending the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, cordially received Li Renchao, Chairman of CWPC, and Zhou Xuegong, Chairman of the company's strategic partner, Jin'an Group, in Beijing. The President, led by Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mtehuri Nyikube, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shawa, Executive Chairman of the State Power Corporation Sini Z. Gata and a number of senior officials, held candid and friendly discussions with Li Renchao and Zhou Xuegong on the 720MW energy project of comprehensive environmental governance and solid waste resource utilization and the 100MW photovoltaic power generation project of Jin'an Group and CWPC in Zimbabwe. The President expressed satisfaction with the implementation plan of the two companies' projects in Zimbabwe and said that the Zimbabwean government will fully support the development and operation of the projects. At the end of the meeting, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between CWPC and the State Grid Corporation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Electricity Development Corporation.
During the meeting, Li Renchao briefly reported on CWPC's ultra-supercritical power generation, three wastes treatment, hydropower, wind and solar power generation technology and equipment, as well as the company's performance in nearly 60 countries and regions around the world. Li Renchao said that CWPC will introduce the most advanced ultra-supercritical, solid waste treatment, wind and solar power generation technologies to Zimbabwe, contribute to improving the country's environment and energy structure, and effectively implement the value of the China-Africa Summit.
Subsequently, Zhou Xuegong, chairman of Jinan Company, reported to the president on the company's production and operation situation, and stated that in the next three years, the company will invest US$2 billion in the country's coal development, agricultural fertilizers, metallurgy, environmental protection, new energy, medical and other industries in order to repay the strong support of the Zimbabwean government and people.
After listening to the report, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa pointed out that the traditional friendship between Zimbabwe and China has a long history, and the two sides have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields such as politics, economy and society. He hopes that West China Energy and Jinan Group will take the opportunity of environmental governance and solid waste resource utilization to add new achievements to promote cooperation between Zimbabwe and China. In view of Zimbabwe's rich light resources and traditional national power structure, the President hopes that West China Energy and Jinan Group will make solid waste resource utilization and new energy technologies take root and bear fruit in Zimbabwe.
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and his delegation took the opportunity of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit to reach a series of economic and technical project cooperation agreements and intentions with Zimbabwean and Chinese companies including Jinan Group and CWPC, and reaped fruitful results. Zimbabwe believes that the two companies' projects in Zimbabwe will greatly improve the country's environmental governance and power supply, and play a positive and effective role in promoting Zimbabwe's economic development, enhancing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and friendly relations between the peoples.
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It is reported that China and Zimbabwe established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1980, the day Zimbabwe gained independence. In April 2018, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa paid his first state visit to China, and the two heads of state unanimously decided to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. At present, China is one of Zimbabwe's main sources of foreign investment and a major trading partner. According to statistics from China Customs, the bilateral trade volume between China and Zimbabwe in 2023 was US$3.122 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.9%. The implementation of a series of Chinese-funded projects such as the expansion of the Kariba South Bank Hydropower Station and the renovation and expansion of the Victoria Falls Airport has effectively improved the level of Zimbabwe's energy and transportation infrastructure.