Zimbabwe's next phase of economic cooperation with China will be judged by the country's ability to offer predictable policies, bankable projects and an environment that inspires long-term investor confidence.

That was the underlying message emerging from the inaugural Zimbabwe-China Investment Symposium in Harare on Thursday, where government officials, diplomats and business leaders looked beyond the longstanding political friendship between the two countries to the practical steps needed to unlock new investment.

Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding said China-Zimbabwe relations had matured into a comprehensive economic partnership, underpinned by approximately US$10 billion in cumulative Chinese investment and bilateral trade that reached a record US$4.4 billion in 2025. He also highlighted China's decision to grant zero-tariff treatment to imports from 53 African countries from May this year as a fresh opportunity for Zimbabwean exporters.

However, the Ambassador devoted much of his address to the conditions needed to sustain future investment.

He identified infrastructure deficits, the need for a phased approach to mineral beneficiation, policy predictability and a supportive operating environment as the four critical areas that will determine the next stage of cooperation.

"A transparent, predictable and consistent policy environment is fundamental to long-term investment," Zhou said, cautioning that sudden changes to mining, industrial or tax policies without adequate consultation could undermine investor confidence.

While reaffirming China's support for Zimbabwe's ambition to beneficiate its minerals, Zhou said the transition should follow a realistic, phased roadmap that takes into account infrastructure constraints, technical capacity, market conditions and global competition rather than attempting to move too quickly.

He also called for closer collaboration in countering misinformation about Chinese investment while encouraging Chinese enterprises to comply fully with Zimbabwean laws, minimise environmental impacts and maintain strong relationships with host communities.

The investment focus was echoed by Benson Xu, Chairperson of the Chinese Chamber of Enterprises in Zimbabwe, who said Chinese companies were keen to expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors into smart cities, renewable energy, industrial parks, water infrastructure, modern transport systems, digital transformation and human capital development.

He said deeper collaboration between government, local authorities and the private sector would be key to unlocking Zimbabwe's next wave of investment opportunities.

On the Zimbabwean side, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said Government's National Development Strategy 2 places mining at the centre of industrialisation but seeks to move beyond mineral extraction towards value addition, beneficiation, technology transfer and stronger domestic value chains.

He said Zimbabwe's objective was to transform its mineral wealth into industries, skilled employment and broader economic development rather than relying primarily on raw mineral exports.

Kambamura also said that Government is developing a new policy framework that shifts mining companies from a traditional Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach to Corporate Social Investment (CSI), with a greater focus on structured community development, local employment and economic empowerment in mining areas.

The inaugural symposium was organised by the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe and Africapaciti Investment Group as a platform to strengthen business engagement between Zimbabwe and China.

Discussions centred on implementation to ensure delivery towards broader industrial growth, diversified investment and tangible benefits for communities.