CGTN's exclusive interview with President Mnangagwa

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By CGTN's World Insight

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday and the two leaders reached an agreement to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

CGTN correspondent Tian Wei caught up with President Mnangagwa to discuss how he sees China's role on the global stage.

The China-Africa Cooperation Forum is an official forum of China and all countries of Africa. It relates to Africa as a continent, but "that does not please everybody, as some other world powers fear that China is coming into their territory," the Zimbabwean president said.

"For them, they fear their influence will be diminished, but for Africa (as a continent), we are so happy to have a friend to help us grow our economies," Mnangagwa continued.

CGTN's Tian Wei had an exclusive interview with Zimbabwe's President. /CGTN Photo

When questioned on how he balances Zimbabwe's relations with the West and the East? President Mnangagwa replied, "national interest" is on top of everything.

"For me as Zimbabwe's president, national interest comes first; there is nothing China has done that threatens the independence or national interest of Zimbabwe. But the Western countries have done a lot of things to threaten their unity and political economic sovereignty."

CGTN Photo

After the interview, the president took off his colorful scarf and gave it to Tian Wei. He spoke highly of the friendship between the two leaders of the two countries and bilateral relations in the new era.

In regards to China, President Mnangagwa concluded, there has never been a moment that Zimbabweans have felt like China is a threat to their national interests.

He later praised China's significance to the development of Africa, as well as the importance of media in China, calling out CGTN as an outstanding long-term news network in Africa.

World Insight with Tian Wei is a 45-minute global affairs and debate show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 10:15 p.m. BJT (1415GMT), with rebroadcasts at 4:15 a.m. BJT (2015GMT).