As one of the countries with a significant influence m southern Africa， Zimbabwe is an important country through which China cooperates with Africa. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980，the friendly bilateral relations between China and Zimbabwe have continued to deepen and have become a typical example of China-Africa friendly cooperation. In recent years， under the frameworks of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative， the bilateral relations between China and Zimbabwe have entered a new stage. In April 2018， the two countries upgraded their relations to the level of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In September 2018，they signed the Belt and Road cooperation document in Beijing. The cooperation will promote their cooperation in development strategies， strengthen their closer connectivity in policy， infrastructure， trade， finance and people-to-people ties， and provide great opportunities for their social and economic development.
Based on the deepening relations between China and Zimbabwe， this report will systematically review the achievements made in the cooperation between the two countries in politics， economy， education and culture as well as the process of establishing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. It will also discuss in detail the opportunities and challenges in the Belt and Road cooperation and the significance of the cooperation in helping Zimbabwe to achieve its "Vision 2030".1n order to lead the relations between the two countries into a new stage， the author of this report suggests that China should promote the status of Zimbabwe in the Belt and Road cooperation， and that the two counties should exchange their experiences in governance and economic development， strengthen their cooperation in trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Xiaolei Shen，Assistant research fellow and deputy director of Division of political studies of the China-Africa Institute （Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences）.His major research areas include African politics, African ethnic groups, and South Africa and Zimbabwe country studies. He has articles published in core journals such as West Asia and Africa, The Journal of International Studies, Journal of World peoples studies, and Quarterly Journal of International Politics. His translation works include The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa.

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Introduction Zimbabwe's International Status and Impact

Chapter 1 Zimbabwe's Political， Economic， Social and Legal Environments
1．1 Political Development of Zimbabwe
1．2 Economic Development of Zimbabwe
1．3 Social Development of Zimbabwe
1．4 Legal Environment of Zimbabwe

Chapter 2 Development of China-Zimbabwe Relahons and Formation of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership
2．1 Characteristics and Changes of Zimbabwe's Foreign Relations
2．2 Historical and Realistic Basis of China-Zimbabwe Relations
2．3 Formation of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership

Chapter 3 New Opportunities in the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Zimbabwe Cooperation
3．1 Opportunities and Challenges in Joint Pursuit the Belt and Road Initiative
3．2 Main Areas and Progress of Joint Pursuit the Belt and Road Initiative

Chapter 4 The Role of People-to-People Exchanges in Boosting China-Zimbabwe Friendly Relations
4．1 Overview of Overseas Chinese in Zimbabwe
4．2 Zimbabwe Dream Star has Built a Platform for China-Zimbabwe Cultural Exchange
4．3 "Love of Africa" Has Set up a Positive Image of Chinese People
4．4 Wildlife Protection has Transferd Positive Energy of the Chinese People

Conclusion
Jointly Building the Belt and Road Initiative to Lead China-Zimbabwe Relations to a New Stage
Bibliography

We are witnessing major changes unfolding in the world， changes unprecedented in a century. With the in-depth development of world multipolarization， economic globalization， social informatization and cultural diversity， peace， development， cooperation and mutual benefit have become the common aspirations of human society; and it is the common wish of people from all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. At the same time， humankind is faced with many common challenges， typified by fierce power politics among major countries， continuous regional conflicts， terrorism， development imbalance， climate change， rising unilateralism and protectionism. China， as the largest developing country in the world， is a builder， contributor and upholder of the cause of peace and development of mankind. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October 2017 has led China to a new great journey of development. Guided by Chinese President Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era， the Chinese people are making continued efforts to achieve the Two Centenary Goals of China and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation， and to make new and greater contributions to mankind. Africa， he continent with the largest number of developing countries， is one of the important forces in safeguarding world peace and promoting global development In recent years， Africa has made the admirable advances on the road of pursuing sustainable self-development and strength through unity， changing from a "hopeless continent" for the West to a "continent with a future full of hope"， and a "running lion". African countries are actively exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions， and the African people are forging ahead to realize The Agenda 2063 and the African dream of peace and prosperity.
China and Africa boast a deep-running friendship and have long formed a community with a shared future. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Africa relations. In March 2013， Xi Jinping visited Africa， also his first trip abroad as national leader. He also chose Africa for his first overseas visit in July 2018 after he was elected to a second term. Over the past six years， Xi has visited the African continent four times and arrived in eight African countries， including Tanzania， South Africa and Senegal， showing the world that China cherishes the traditional friendship with Africa and values highly the continent and China-Africa relations. In 2018， the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held. At this summit， Xi revealed the essential characteristics of China-Africa unity and cooperation， pointed out the direction of bilateral ties， and outlined the specific paths for the common development of China and Africa He has greatly improved and innovated the theoretical framework and ideological system of China's policy toward Africa， which has then become an important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping thought on diplomacy of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and provided a strong political principle and guide for the development of China-Africa relations in the future. This summit marks another milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.