DEFENCE minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has lauded China as a steadfast partner in Zimbabwe's journey towards independence and subsequent development.
In a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Levi Mayihlome on the occasion of the Chinese Army Day on Monday this week, Muchinguri emphasised the deep-rooted military co-operation between the two nations.
Zimbabwe and China have shared a strong bond since the liberation struggle, with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army playing a pivotal role in training and equipping Zimbabwean combatants.
Muchinguri said the partnership between Zimbabwe and China had endured with 68 Zimbabwean military personnel currently undergoing training in the Asian country while seven PLA instructors are at the Zimbabwe National Defence University and Zimbabwe Staff College.
“It is pleasing that after independence, relations between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China continued to grow from strength to strength, particularly in the area of defence and security.
“In the area of military training, I am pleased to highlight that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces currently have 68 students engaged in various military courses in China.
“This engagement is not just a testament to our strong military ties, but also a demonstration of our shared commitment to capacity building and professional development,” Muchinguri said.
Chinese embassy defence attaché Senior Colonel Wang Zhenyu said in 2022, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative, which called for governments to adapt to the rapidly changing international scene in a spirit of co-operation for countries to collaborate in establishing a world free of fear and secure for all.
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“His vision and initiatives echo the trend of history and respond to the international community's desire for countries to unite and work together to build a world that is free from fear and enjoys universal security. Firstly, we value peace and harmony. China’s strategic culture is firmly based on universal love and non-aggression,” Wang said.
He said China would always pursue peaceful development and endeavour to implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative.
“Chinese military always keeps in mind to fulfil its missions of meeting the responsibilities of a major country, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.
