Mugabe opens new airport road

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Nov 25 opened a revamped road leading to Harare International Airport, six days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit.

The 12-kilometer road has undergone an overhaul over the past six years to change it into a dual carriageway. Xi is expected to visit on Dec 1 and 2.

Mugabe said the renovated road would project a positive image of the country to visitors.

Zimbabwean Transport Minister Joram Gumbo hailed China's longstanding support for Zimbabwe's development.

"Our relations with China date back a very long time ago. We have received great support from China over the years," he said, adding Xi's visit was expected to open "gates and opportunities for more partnerships".

The new road has become a major infrastructure project completed since the government launched its five-year economic blueprint in 2013.

The government is said to be eager for China's assistance in developing energy and transport infrastructure to fix the country's ailing economy.

According to the Chinese embassy in Harare, China's investment in Zimbabwe reach $601 million in 2013, surpassing its investment in any other African country that year.

China has given $1.5 billion loans, including preferential loans, to Zimbabwe in recent years. Its grants to Zimbabwe over the past three years topped $100 million.

The Chinese are carrying out a project to expand the country's second largest power plant by 300 megawatts, due to be completed in 2017.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/27/2015 page2)