by Tichaona Chifamba

    HARARE, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean businessman and diplomat Chris Mutsvangwa has called for greater cooperation in the mining sector with China.

    In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Saturday, the former Zimbabwean ambassador to China said both countries would benefit immensely from cooperation in mining, since China has the capital and Zimbabwe boasts resources.

    Mutsvangwa made the remarks with Xinhua ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

    He noted that the robust Chinese economy will quickly bottom out of the global financial crisis, thereby quickly creating demand for minerals and other goods by the Chinese community.

    "It means that China will have a lot of demand for base minerals, and Zimbabwe is well endowed with platinum, gold and chrome, among other minerals.

    "So here is a marriage made in heaven. China has the capital, China has the market, and Zimbabwe has the minerals. It is a perfect marriage. We need to make sure that Zimbabwe does not miss the next mining boom which is driven by China," Mutsvangwa said.

    Mutsvangwa once described China's development as "a miracle happening before your eyes."

    "These 60 years are hardly three generations, yet China had managed to lift itself from being a country where the majority of the population is living on less than one U. S. dollar a day to where they are a very prosperous country with no destitute people."

    He said China has a rapidly growing middle class where it has become the norm for locals to be seen driving around in posh cars, such as Ferraris, and where the consumption of modern telecommunications is now the highest in the world.

    "There are more internet users in China than the population of the United States. This is a country which has made remarkable progress from being an agrarian country into an industrial country. This is a good example for Zimbabwe and Africa in general. It means that the case for underdevelopment can be overcome. You can also make progress in Africa to become modern and take your proper place in global affairs," he said.

    Mutsvangwa also applauded Chinese companies which engaged locals in contract tobacco farming, saying they had managed to economically empower a hitherto poor community.

    "It (contract farming) is very important for Zimbabwe. China likes good quality blend tobacco from Zimbabwe. It was good that we brought Chinese companies to have a direct relationship with our new farmers."

    He said by engaging locals in contract farming, the Chinese companies had supported the land reforms when some banks had withdrawn because they were angry that land had been taken away from the minority whites.

    In his message to the Chinese people, Mutsvangwa called for deeper friendship between the two countries.

    "I would like to say to the Chinese people, over 60 years you have done well for your country. You have lifted yourselves out of poverty into prosperity. The Zimbabwean people wish you the best in your continued growth, in your prosperity, in your development. The Zimbabwean people want to make sure that the friendship between China and Zimbabwe becomes deeper and deeper as we share in common prosperity."

Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC