BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday replied to veterans of Zimbabwe's national liberation war.

In his letter, Xi noted that in their youth, the veterans devoted themselves to the great cause of national liberation, left their homelands, and forged with China a profound friendship and comradeship in the struggle.

To this day, they remain deeply committed to China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship, which is deeply moving, Xi said.

Xi stressed that 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African nations as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Over the past 70 years, he added, China has always been a good comrade and partner in Africa's quest for national liberation, development and rejuvenation.

China and its African friends have respected and supported each other, weathered arduous times together, and jointly embarked on a new journey toward modernization, Xi noted.

Xi said that China stands ready to take the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship with the African side and jointly create an even brighter future for China-Africa relations.

He also expressed the hope that the veterans will inspire more African youth to devote themselves to the cause of China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship.

As the Chinese New Year of the Horse approaches, Xi said he hopes China and Africa will carry forward the tireless spirit symbolized by the dragon and the horse, work together to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, China firmly supported Africa's struggles against imperialism and colonialism and its pursuit of national liberation.

The veterans recently wrote to Xi, expressing gratitude for China's valuable support for Zimbabwe's national liberation, admiration for his leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people in achieving remarkable accomplishments in the new era, and for forging a Chinese path to modernization that offers valuable insights for other developing countries.

They expressed pride in the all-weather Zimbabwe-China community with a shared future, pledging to dedicate themselves to carrying forward the friendship between the two countries.