HARARE, Jul. 2 (NewsDay Live) – China has called on Zimbabwe to strengthen policy consistency, accelerate infrastructure development and foster a positive investment climate to unlock greater trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
Addressing the Zimbabwe-China Investment Symposium in Harare on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding said the two countries’ long-standing political ties had laid a strong foundation for expanding economic cooperation, with China remaining Zimbabwe’s largest source of foreign direct investment.
Zhou said cumulative Chinese investment in Zimbabwe had reached about US$10 billion, spanning mining, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, digital infrastructure and other sectors.
He said bilateral trade reached a record US$4.4 billion in 2025, up 15.2% year-on-year, with Zimbabwe recording a trade surplus of US$740 million. He added that China continued to buy about half of Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports while Chinese investment had created nearly one million local jobs and generated significant tax revenues.
The ambassador said Zimbabwe and China enjoyed complementary economies, with Zimbabwe offering abundant mineral and agricultural resources while China provided technology, capital and access to a vast consumer market.
He said China’s decision to grant zero-tariff treatment to exports from 53 African countries from May this year presented Zimbabwe with a major opportunity to expand exports.
Zhou, however, identified infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in electricity, transport, water and digital connectivity, as major constraints to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive.
“Looking ahead, there are significant business opportunities in transport corridors, railway rehabilitation, renewable energy, industrial parks, logistics hubs and digital infrastructure to support Zimbabwe’s industrialization,” he said.
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On mineral beneficiation, Zhou said China fully supported Zimbabwe’s ambition to add value to its mineral resources but cautioned that the process should be implemented gradually.
He said beneficiation required a realistic, phased approach that considered infrastructure limitations, technical capacity, market conditions and global competition while leveraging Chinese investment and technology.
The envoy also stressed the importance of a predictable and transparent policy environment, warning that abrupt changes to mining, industrial or tax policies could undermine investor confidence.
He welcomed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to maintaining a stable business environment and praised government ministries for consulting investors before introducing new regulations.
Zhou further urged both countries to counter misinformation targeting Chinese investments, saying isolated incidents should not overshadow broader cooperation. He said Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe were expected to comply with local laws, protect the environment and reject corruption.
He reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening investment and trade ties with Zimbabwe, saying stronger collaboration would help both countries overcome shared challenges and achieve long-term prosperity.
