China and Mozambique Renew a 50-Year Friendship with Focus on Shared Growth and Gender Progress

In a warm meeting that underscored half a century of diplomatic friendship, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Mozambican Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi to Beijing on October 14, 2025. The talks, held at the Great Hall of the People, went beyond formal state relations reflecting a partnership rooted in shared history, mutual respect, and a shared vision for inclusive development, especially for women.

Prime Minister Levi is in China for the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, a gathering that has become a touchstone for global cooperation on gender equality. Her visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of China–Mozambique diplomatic ties, adding historical weight to the occasion.

President Xi spoke of a relationship that has endured the shifting tides of global politics. “Our traditional friendship has withstood the test of time,” he said, describing Mozambique as a “steadfast partner” in Africa. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to support Mozambique’s independent development path, emphasizing that both countries share “a vision of solidarity, progress, and peace.”

Xi highlighted plans to expand cooperation across multiplefronts from infrastructure and energy to education and culture. “China is ready to strengthen cooperation between our governments, political parties, and legislatures,” he said. One of the meeting’s notable outcomes was China’s pledge to speed up the establishment of a China Cultural Center in Mozambique, aimed at deepening people-to-people connections and cultural understanding.

The conversation also touched on global governance. Xi emphasized that China and Mozambique will continue to advocate for a fairer international order, standing against unilateralism and hegemonism. “Together, we will uphold the common interests of developing countries and the Global South,” he said, tying the bilateral agenda to China’s broader diplomatic vision through initiatives like the Global Governance Initiative.

Prime Minister Levi’s remarks carried both gratitude and ambition. She praised President Xi’s “profound and inspiring” address at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, saying it resonated with Mozambique’s own priorities. “China is not only a trusted partner but a friend that walks with us in times of challenge and change,” Levi said.

She reaffirmed Mozambique’s commitment to the one-China principle and expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation in trade, mining, science, technology, and education. “We wish to learn from China’s experience to accelerate our own economic and social development,” she added, noting that such collaboration will “bring tangible benefits to the Mozambican people.”

Levi also voiced Mozambique’s support for China’s four major global initiatives, including those focused on development, security, and civilization dialogue. She said these frameworks are vital for building a “more just and equitable” international system one where nations of the Global South can thrive on their own terms.

As both leaders exchanged commitments for the next phase of cooperation, their meeting symbolized more than diplomacy it was a reaffirmation of shared purpose. For Mozambique, it was a moment to strengthen ties with one of its most consistent partners. For China, it was a continuation of its enduring outreach to Africa, grounded in equality, solidarity, and the belief that progress must leave no one behind.