MOA Senior Advisor Bi Meijia headed a Chinese delegation to Zimbabwe on 26-27 July 2017 and met with Mr. Joseph Mtakwese Made, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
During the meeting, Senior Advisor Bi Meijia stated that China and Zimbabwe have maintained a long lasting and good cooperative relationship, and the two sides have conducted practical and fruitful cooperation in agricultural policy, S&T exchanges, human resources development and agricultural investment.The China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Zimbabwe has undertaken a great deal of training, demonstration and trial. It is estimated that more than 3000 Zimbabwean personnel have received trainings.
Mr. Bi Meijia said that China is willing to work with Zimbabwe to continue agricultural cooperation in a pragmatic manner and jointly implement agricultural cooperation activities under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), particularly in human resources development, agricultural managerial and research personnel exchanges and agricultural investment and trade.
Dr. Joseph Made thanked China for its assistance in Zimbabwe's agricultural development, noting that the donation of 10,000 tons of fertilizer last year played a significant role in helping the country obtain a bumper harvest. The Zimbabwean Government attaches great importance to agricultural development, with special focuses on irrigation facilities, soil fertility, agricultural mechanization and biogas technology at present. Zimbabwe hopes to enhance cooperation with China in the above areas to promote its agricultural modernization.
During the stay in Zimbabwe, the Chinese delegation also carried out a field study to the agricultural facilities invested by Anhui Provincial State Farm Group and the China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center.