China's Xi Hosts Zimbabwe and Congo Leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the presidents of Zimbabwe and Congo in Beijing after China’s World War II anniversary parade. Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa also thanked Belarus for supporting regional food security and invited its president to visit. Other leaders from Cuba, Laos, Slovakia, Vietnam, and Serbia attended the parade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received the presidents of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Congo in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting that followed closely after China staged a large-scale military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event drew international attention, as world leaders gathered to witness the demonstration of China’s military capabilities and to commemorate a pivotal moment in global history.

Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa traveled to Beijing specifically to attend the parade, signaling the importance of their diplomatic engagement with China. Alongside these two African leaders, a number of other foreign dignitaries were also in attendance. These included Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, reflecting China’s efforts to engage with a broad array of international partners, according to reports from Xinhua News Agency.

Before meeting President Xi, both President Sassou Nguesso and President Mnangagwa participated in separate bilateral meetings with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Beijing on Wednesday. During his discussion with Lukashenko, President Mnangagwa expressed appreciation for Belarus’s contributions to regional food security, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in addressing pressing global challenges. He also extended a renewed invitation for President Lukashenko to visit Zimbabwe, highlighting the strengthening ties between the two countries.

These engagements underscore China’s role as a central hub for international diplomacy in the region, as well as its ongoing efforts to cultivate strategic partnerships across Africa and beyond. The meetings also demonstrate the shared interest of participating nations in fostering cooperation on issues ranging from economic development to security and humanitarian concerns.