President Xi Praises Zimbabwe Liberation Veterans

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated China’s firm commitment to Zimbabwe and Africa, highlighting the enduring friendship forged during struggles for national liberation, in a reply to veterans of Zimbabwe’s national liberation war.

In his letter, Xi praised the veterans for dedicating their youth to the cause of national independence, noting that many left their homeland and forged a deep bond of friendship and comradeship with China during the liberation struggle.

He said their continued dedication to strengthening China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa relations remains deeply moving.

The message comes as Zimbabwe, under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, continues to emphasize the historical and strategic partnership between Harare and Beijing, which has been elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future.

Xi stressed that 2026 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Over the past seven decades, he said, China has consistently stood with Africa as a comrade and partner in its pursuit of national liberation, development, and rejuvenation.

China and African countries, including Zimbabwe, have respected and supported each other, weathered hardships together, and embarked on a shared path toward modernization, Xi said.

He added that China is ready to take the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship with African partners and jointly build a brighter future for China-Africa relations.

Xi also expressed hope that Zimbabwe’s liberation war veterans would continue to inspire African youth to commit themselves to advancing China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship.

As the Chinese New Year of the Horse approaches, Xi said China and Africa should carry forward the tireless spirit symbolized by the dragon and the horse, work together to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and write a new chapter in bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing firmly supported African countries, including Zimbabwe, in their struggles against imperialism and colonialism and in their pursuit of national independence.

The veterans recently wrote to Xi, expressing gratitude for China’s long-standing support for Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and appreciation for his leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people in achieving significant development accomplishments.

They also praised China’s path to modernization as offering valuable lessons for other developing countries.

The veterans reaffirmed their pride in the all-weather Zimbabwe-China community with a shared future and pledged to continue working to strengthen the friendship between the two nations.