HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – Thousands of people lined Harare’s roads and welcomed Chinese president Xi Jinping, whose visit has raised hopes that China will help stabilize Zimbabwe’s faltering economy.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe greeted Xi at the airport, where some immigration signs are in Chinese, indicating China’s importance to this southern African country.
Xi inspected a guard of honor at the airport but did not speak on his arrival. He is expected to address a joint press conference with Mugabe after signing economic deals later on Tuesday.
China is Zimbabwe’s biggest foreign investor, pumping in $600 million in 2013, according to Chinese ambassador to Harare Huang Ping. Mugabe and Xi are expected to sign several “mega deals,” said Ping.
Chinese nationals, Zimbabwean schoolchildren and people wearing shirts of Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party held Zimbabwe and Chinese flags for up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) along the road to Harare International Airport. Others wore T-shirts praising the friendship between Zimbabwe and China.