On 30 April 2026, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding attended and addressed the 2026 Zimbabwe Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Guest of Honour. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, other political dignitaries and over 300 representatives from all sectors of society were also present.

Extending warmest congratulations to the new inductees into the Business Hall of Fame, Ambassador Zhou spoke highly of the Zimbabwean business community’s remarkable contributions to the nation’s economic and social development, livelihood improvement and the steady growth of China-Zimbabwe relations. He briefed the attendees on the latest progress in bilateral economic cooperation, encouraging Zimbabwean stakeholders to seize the historic opportunities brought by China’s zero-tariff treatment, effective as of May 1st, for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China, Zimbabwe included. The Ambassador called on both sides to further deepen economic and trade cooperation, boost Zimbabwe’s economic growth, and jointly build an all-weather China-Zimbabwe community with a shared future.

Zimbabwean representatives voiced appreciation for China’s long-standing support, highly commended China on its zero-tariff policy for Africa, and pledged to leverage the new opportunities to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, advance the realisation of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, and further cement the time-honoured friendship between China and Zimbabwe.