Photo provided to Hangzhoufeel
Event
By Daria Fominykh
On April 20, the 44th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Zimbabwe was celebrated at Zhejiang-Africa Service Center in Hangzhou. The event welcomed Zimbabweans from Hangzhou and other Chinese cities, as well as representatives in Zhejiang companies, to engage in discussions and commemorate Zimbabwe's journey towards liberation and national unity.
At the start of the event, Xie Qi, the director of Zhejiang-Africa Service Center, highlighted the strengthening cooperation between Zimbabwe and China. He noted that the increase in Zimbabweans coming to China for education and work has made Zhejiang a popular destination. Xie further emphasized that Zhejiang-Africa Service Center would continue to collaborate closely with the Zimbabwean expatriates to organize a variety of Sino-African cultural exchange events.
Kumbirai Diza, the Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in China, delivered a keynote speech reviewing Zimbabwe's 44-year development journey and its friendly cooperation with China. He emphasized the friendship between the two nations and the importance of further enhancing cultural exchanges.
In an interview with Hangzhoufeel, the Minister-Counselor shared some updates on the cooperation between Zimbabwe and Zhejiang Province: "There are many projects taking place. We have several big Zhejiang companies investing in Zimbabwe, including the Tsingshan Group, which is setting up a huge steel plant that will create jobs and generate export revenue for the country once completed. We also have companies facilitating logistics, like Sinotruck." Regarding areas where Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen cooperation with China, he mentioned that in recent years, they hope to boost tourism between the two countries to promote people-to-people exchanges.
Representatives from the Zimbabweans in China associations from Wenzhou, Wuhan, and Jiangxi delivered enthusiastic video addresses.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the establishment of the Zimbabwe-China (Zhejiang) Cultural Exchange Base and the launch of the Digital Automotive Industry Investment Exploration in Zimbabwe. The base is dedicated to creating an innovative non-governmental exchange platform aimed at deepening the cultural and socio-economic exchanges between Zimbabwe and Zhejiang Province in China. The Investment Exploration aims to enhance cooperation and communication between China and Zimbabwe in the digital automotive industry.
The ceremony was filled with a variety of artistic performances and cultural displays, including dance, music, and singing, showcasing Zimbabwe's unique cultural charm and artistic flair.
The event was guided by the Embassy of Zimbabwe in China and China Africa Zhigong Station, hosted by the Bureau of Commerce of Hangzhou Qiantang District and Zhejiang-Africa Service Center, and co-hosted by Zimbabweans in China and Abroad Path Leaders (APL).