Zimbabwe and China have signed a $55 million Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement, alongside a $6.9 million food assistance package, aimed at accelerating trade, investment, and food security across the country. The deal follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2024 Beijing visit and marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties.
Zimbabwe and China have solidified their partnership with a $55 million Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement and a $6.9 million food assistance package, designed to boost socio-economic development, improve food security, and support vulnerable communities. The agreements were signed on August 6, 2025, following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit to Beijing in 2024, which produced multiple cooperation accords in agriculture, mining, and infrastructure.
The State House ceremony saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa presiding, alongside Finance Minister Mthuli Ncubeand Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding. Minister Ncube highlighted previous collaborative initiatives, including borehole drilling and the Juncao technology project, which enables farmers to cultivate protein-rich hybrid grass.
Ambassador Zhou emphasized China’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s long-term development and noted that the agreements build on the 17 accords signed during Mnangagwa’s 2024 Beijing visit, covering clean energy, digital economy, and infrastructure.
The partnership supports China’s broader strategy to expand an Africa–China economic network. Trade between the two nations increased by 29.9% in 2023 to $3.12 billion, driven by Zimbabwe’s mineral and tobacco exports. Trade flows in 2024 were projected to reach $3.8 billion, reflecting a 23.9% year-on-year growth (International Trade Center).
This cooperation also aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which aims to position the country as an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. The inclusion of food assistance addresses immediate humanitarian needs while complementing long-term development objectives.
Amid persistent economic challenges, the strengthened partnership with China is expected to play a key role in advancing Zimbabwe’s development agenda and fostering sustainable growth (china.org.cn).
