Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Zimbabwe’s liberation war veterans to help mobilize African youth to take part in shaping the next stage of China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa relations, signaling a shift from liberation-era solidarity to future-focused cooperation centered on development and modernization.
Xi said that China stands ready to take the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship with the African side and jointly create an even brighter future for China-Africa relations.
As quoted in Chinese media outlets, Xi made the appeal in a reply to a letter from Zimbabwe’s war veterans, who had written to thank China for its support during the liberation struggle and to praise China’s development path under his leadership.
In his response, Xi said 2026 would mark 70 years of China-Africa diplomatic relations and has been designated the China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year, creating an opportunity to deepen ties beyond governments and into younger generations.
He encouraged the veterans to help mobilize African youth to take part in building closer China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa relations, linking the liberation generation’s legacy to a new phase of cooperation focused on development and modernization.
The message positions Zimbabwe’s liberation generation as political bridge-builders between past and future, as Xi’s reply casts them as conduits for youth engagement at a time when China is expanding its footprint in African infrastructure, mining, education, and technology.
Related Stories
The focus on youth reflects Beijing’s recognition that Africa’s demographic future and the durability of its partnerships will be shaped less by liberation history and more by how young people experience cooperation in jobs, training, and innovation.
Zimbabwe’s symbolic role in China-Africa relations stems from its liberation-era ties with Beijing and its present-day economic partnerships in mining, energy, and infrastructure.
By addressing war veterans directly while speaking of the youths, China is reframing the relationship as one that must resonate with a new generation.
In recent years, the Chinese Embassy in Harare has increased engagement with Zimbabwe’s war veterans, hosting commemorative events and historical exchanges involving former fighters who trained in China during the liberation struggle.
These initiatives have been presented as efforts to preserve shared memory while strengthening people-to-people diplomacy.
With 2026 set as a milestone year for China-Africa relations, Xi’s message suggests that Beijing’s next phase of engagement will lean heavily on youth participation.
Leave Comments