ZIMBABWE is expecting a consignment of 4 000 tonnes of soyabeans from China to boost the availability of cooking oil and nutritious soya products. The delivery follows the recent conclusion of food assistance negotiations by the two governments. Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Yuan Nansheng said the consignment was already on its way to Zimbabwe.
In another development, China has extended a US$200 million buyer's credit to Zimbabwe to help boost the agriculture sector through the purchasing of tractors, agricultural implements and chemicals among other things.
Mr Yuan said 150 000 tonnes of fertilizer had already arrived in he country ahead of the 2007/08 agricultural season. He added that a development bank in China had also held discussions with various stakeholders in the country, including the Ministry of Transport and Communications, in an effort to upgrade Victoria Falls Airport among several other development projects.
He dispelled rumours that China has reduced aid to Zimbabwe, except humanitarian only, saying all the projects he had outlined were evident that the rumours were unfounded. "The fact is that the Chinese government is offering all sorts of assistance to the Zimbabwean Government and people including loans, grants and food assistance besides humanitarian aid," said Mr Yuan.
He said China was also committed to the construction of two primary schools, a hospital and an agriculture technology demonstration centre in Zimbabwe. China was also reaping huge benefits from Zimbabwe, especially, in terms of raw materials. Mr Yuan, however, said the relationship was went beyond buyer and seller, and could therefore not be destroyed by some people's wishful thinking or wild imagination.
