Minister commends Chinese assistance to Zimbabwe
- Source: Xinhua
- [18:54 September 18 2009]
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The country has also donated an agriculture technology demonstration center, a hospital and two primary schools, all of which are near completion. It has helped build an orphanage just outside Harare, where it will also donate another primary school to accommodate 800 pupils.
In one case, China credited Zimbabwe with a 200 million US dollars buyer's loan and another favorable loan to support key sectors, in particular agriculture.
Recently, China provided 5 million dollars cash aid and another 5 million dollars worth of food. At the height of the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe during the past year, China donated 500,000 dollars to help ease human suffering.
Funding has been provided for the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The Chinese community is also involved in the Care Action project, in which they help the disadvantaged, orphans and those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.
In June, the Zimbabwe government took delivery of 4 000 tons of soya beans worth 500,000 dollars from China to help ease food shortages and boost industry's capacity utilization.
Commenting on the Confucius Institute's collaboration with the UZ, Mudenge said the initiative had provided an opportunity for further socio-economic and inter-cultural cooperation.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Xin Shunkang said China had witnessed economic growth due to its opening up to the world.
"Chinese people of all ethnic groups have made concerted and arduous efforts to bring tremendous changes to their motherland which was poor and backward in the past," he said.
"China has witnessed fast economic growth and ever increasing overall national strength. Its people's living standards have been uplifted in an unprecedented manner."
Xin said comprehensive progress had been made in the field of science and technology, citing the successful launch of manned spacecraft and the educational sector.
Director of Confucius Institute at the UZ Pedzisai Mashiri said the collaboration had already started paying dividends.
"It's only three years since the institute was established here and we already have six students who have been awarded scholarships through the institute, to pursue studies in different fields," he said.
