On April 23, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding delivered a speech at the Inaugural Research for Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Development Indaba held during the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. Over 200 participants were in attendance, including Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development Frederick Shava, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube as well as government officials, scholars, and think tank representatives.  

Ambassador Zhou expounded on China's successful experience in industrialization and the achievements of China-Zimbabwe cooperation in recent years. He stated that China supports Zimbabwe in exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions and is willing to share development opportunities with Zimbabwe and other African countries. China remains firmly committed to upholding multilateralism and the rules-based international trade system, resolutely safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests as well as the common interests of the international community, and injecting stability and certainty into global economic growth.  

Highly praising China's development achievements and the fruits of China-Zimbabwe cooperation, the Indaba participants called for win-win cooperation, opposed confrontation and conflict, and expressed their hope for Zimbabwe to join hands with the "Global South" in advancing toward modernization.