China, in a rare show of support for diplomatically isolated Zimbabwe, China’s embassy in Harare threw President Mugabe a party to celebrate his 86th birthday. The party was held yesterday at the embassy premises and was attended by Mugabe himself and his closest political allies.

In what could be could be construed as China striking back at the West for last week’s meeting between US President Barack Obama and Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Beijing went against prevailing global diplomatic practice and showed open support and celebration of the Mugabe regime.

The incident is detailed on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website including pictures of the octogenarian leader cutting a birthday cake surrounded by festive signage and over 100 guests.

Mugabe is quoted by the Foreign Ministry as having “thanked the Chinese embassy for its painstaking for the birthday celebration and...hoped to further expand friendly, co-operative relations in every field between the two nations.”

Zimbabe Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi remarked that it was the first time Mugabe visited a foreign embassy since the Southern African nation’s independence in 1980. Mumbengegwi is scheduled to make a formal visit to Beijing in April though no further details have been disclosed about his trip.