Robert Mugabe is awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in China which was won last year by Vladimir Putin

The President  of Zimbabwean, Robert Mugabe has been awarded the China's version on Noble Peace Prize and praised his leadership in 'overcoming hardship.' The 91-year-old picked up the prize after beating off competition from other candidates, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and South Korea's president Park Geun-hye. Mugabe has presided over the country for 35 years despite lengthy periods of economic and political turmoil. The Confucius prize latest winner follows in the footsteps of previous winners Vladimir Putin and Fidel Castro. 

A statement from the prize committee declared that Mugabe had helped to improve the welfare of his people, despite the continual use of intimidation and detainment. 

'Ever since Robert Mugabe was sworn in as the president of Zimbabwe in the 1980s, he has worked hard to bring political and economic order to the country and to improve the welfare of the Zimbabwean people by overcoming hardship,' the statement said. 

Qiao Damo, the committee’s chairman supported the decision to award Mugabe with the prize.

'Every country's economy has its highs and lows. Though its economy is lagging behind, [Zimbabwe is] a very stable country [and] stability is precious in the African continent, he said.

'If Zimbabwe did not have Mugabe as its president, the country would be facing great difficulty – even public security might be in danger,' 

The Chinese prize was set up in reaction to the Nobel peace prize committee's decision to award imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010.