China and Zimbabwe will strengthen the military ties in the
coming years in a bid to quicken the modernization of the armed
forces of the two countries, a Chinese military officer said in
Harare on Monday.
"The Chinese army will provide more assistance to the Zimbabwe's
defense forces in military materials and personnel training," Tian
Jianjun, military attache of the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, said
at a reception to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the founding of
the Chinese People's Liberation Army held in Zimbabwe's capital
city of Harare.
In May this year, the Chinese military donated machines and
construction equipment worth of US$1.5 million to the Zimbabwe
Defense Forces. In 2005, China provided the armed forces for
Zimbabwe with 39 military trucks and educational and medical
equipment worth of more than US$3 million.
Starting from 1960s, China has begun to help Zimbabwe to train
military officers. Every year since then, at least 20 Zimbabwean
officers have received various kinds of training in China.
According to an agreement signed between the military forces of
the two countries, Zimbabwe will send 55 officers to China to
receive military and technical training in the period between 2006
and 2007.
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantine
Chiwenga spoke at the reception, hailing the strong friendship
between the two armies.
More than 100 people, including senior Zimbabwean officers,
military attaches of many foreign embassies to Zimbabwe and the
members of the Chinese military training team attended the
reception.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)
