Chinese medical teams: A testament to solidarity and brotherhood of Sino-Zim friendshipBy Zhou DingI wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the outgoing 22nd China Medical Teams (CMT) on the successful completion of your remarkable mission.Since your arrival in Zimbabwe in March last year, you have worked tirelessly at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and across the country, providing medical services to more than 11,000 patients. As dedicated medical professionals, you have demonstrated exceptional expertise, unwavering commitment, and profound compassion. Your efforts have not only strengthened Zimbabwe’s healthcare system but also deepened the bonds of friendship between our two nations and peoples.
To the incoming members of the 23rd China Medical Team, you are entrusted with a great honor, as well as significant responsibilities. As you begin your mission, I encourage you to carry forward the proud spirit of the China Medical Team and uphold the highest standards of medical ethics and professionalism. I am pleased to note that, starting with your team, the tour of duty has been extended to one and a half years. Moreover, for the first time, the CMT has included a public health expert, whose primary focus will be collaborating with the Zimbabwean side on areas such as infectious disease prevention and control, as well as medical exchanges and professional training.
As early as 1976, during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, The CMT stationed in Mozambique traveled to the border areas to provide life-saving treatment to Zimbabwean guerrilla fighters. In those days of hardship and uncertainty, this act of solidarity represented China's unwavering commitment to Zimbabwe's freedom, independence, and dignity. Since the first China Medical Team arrived in Zimbabwe in 1985, what began as a medical assistance mission has grown into an enduring symbol of solidarity and brotherhood between our two nations.
Over the past four decades, China has dispatched 22 medical teams comprising more than 200 doctors, in addition to 10 short-term medical assistance teams with over 90 professionals. Their footsteps have reached hospitals and communities across all ten provinces of Zimbabwe, bringing hope, healing, and comfort to over 104,000 patients. Through targeted training programs and on-site guidance, they have also actively contributed to the transfer of medical knowledge and skills. The dedication of the CMTs has earned deep respect and heartfelt gratitude from the Zimbabwean people, and has left an indelible mark on our enduring friendship.
Throughout the years, China has remained a strong, reliable, and steadfast partner in strengthening Zimbabwe's healthcare system. Beyond dispatching medical experts, our cooperation has also included building medical infrastructure, providing medical supplies, facilitating technology transfer, and offering professional training. Landmark projects such as the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, the Mahusekwa China-Zimbabwe Friendship Hospital, and the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse stand as tangible symbols of our deep and robust partnership.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, China acted swiftly and decisively to support Zimbabwe, providing 17 million doses of vaccines as well as critical medical equipment and supplies. Through the “Bright Journey” programme — implemented in Zimbabwe in 2010, 2011, and 2025 — Chinese ophthalmologists have helped more than 1,400 cataract patients regain their sight. In partnership with UNAIDS, we will soon launch a project aiming at reducing high HIV infection rate among adolescent girls and young women in four provinces.
The partnership between China and Zimbabwe extends far beyond healthcare. It encompasses broad-ranging cooperation in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, and other key sectors vital to national development and people’s well-being. With the support of Chinese government grants and concessional financing, a series of landmark projects have helped transform Zimbabwe’s economic and social landscape.
Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises have made substantial investments in Zimbabwe's energy, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors—boosting local economic growth and creating much-needed jobs. Beyond contributing significant tax revenue that benefits the national health sector, many of these companies have actively fulfilled their corporate social responsibility by building local health facilities, donating medical supplies, and supporting community medical programs across the country.
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Health is the foundation of human dignity, social progress, and inclusive, sustainable development. China remains committed to building a global community of health for all. Africa, including Zimbabwe, has always been a priority partner in China’s international health cooperation. In carrying out such cooperation, China always adheres to the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith — never attaching political strings or imposing our will on others.
The rotation of the CMT represents a continuation and a new chapter of our shared mission: to safeguard health, to alleviate suffering, and to improve the well-being of our peoples.
Before I conclude, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Without your unwavering support, the remarkable achievements of the CMTs would not have been possible. It is through our shared commitment, mutual respect, and joint efforts that our cooperation in the medical field continues to thrive.
Zhou Ding is China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe. He was speaking at the handover ceremony for the 22nd and 23rd China Medical Teams in Zimbabwe.
