China and Zimbabwe on Thursday signed a memorandum of
understanding in the areas of construction, rural housing and
social amenities to enhance economic development and improve the
living standards of the people.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwean Rural
Housing and Social Amenities Minister Emerson Mnangagwa said the
development would enable the two countries to share experiences and
assistance in rural development.
The assistance, he said, would also help the ministry complete
some of its rural development programs.
"About 70 percent of our population live in the rural areas," he
said.
Therefore the signing of this MOU marks a significant step in
technical cooperation, technology, experience and knowledge sharing
in rural development between the two countries, the minister
said.
He said the cooperation demonstrated the deep solidarity,
friendship and warm relations that exist between China and
Zimbabwe.
Chinese Assistant Minister of Construction Liu Zhifeng urged the
two countries to continue working together to improve the cordial
relationships that bond them together.
"What we have achieved today is just the beginning of greater
things to come," he said.
"We should continue to work together and promote further
cooperation between the two countries."
The MOU was initiated last year when Mnangagwa led a delegation
to China to study policies and programs put in place to develop
rural areas.
The Zimbabwean government aims by 2007 to have refurbished at
least five rural schools in each of the country's 59 districts and
construct 50 institutional houses for rural public servants.
Construction of 30 market stalls and at least one model
homestead in each of the remaining four rural provinces should also
be completed by year end.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2007)
