China’s Foreign Ministry today backed Zimbabwe’s observance of the Southern African Development Community’s Anti-Sanctions Day, marked Oct. 25 for the eighth year. Western sanctions on Zimbabwe, in place for more than 20 years, are “a typical example of hegemonism” that “seriously violates Zimbabwe’s national sovereignty, undermines Zimbabwean people’s right to development, and hurts international fairness and justice,” spokesman Guo Jiakun said. China “solemnly calls on certain Western countries to immediately remove the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.”