Zimbabwean president hails relations with China

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe hailed the country's relations with China on Tuesday saying that his country regards China as its first great friend in the world. He made the remarks during a meeting with the visiting Vice- Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Zhou Tienong. "We are a country which regards China in the international community as its first great friend," Mugabe said. During the meeting, Mugabe commended China for the assistance it gave to Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle and after independence from British colonial rule in 1980. He said the historic relations were a firm foundation upon which bilateral relations between the two countries continued to thrive on. "During this period we have strengthened our relations with China," he said. He said that his country is grateful to the stand that China has always taken in defense of Zimbabwe's sovereignty. Zhou said cooperation between the two countries had been expanding during the 31 years of diplomatic relations, adding there were more high-level Chinese delegations coming to Zimbabwe this year following Mugabe's visit to China last year. Zhou said the visit by his delegation would rejuvenate relations between China and Zimbabwe, stressing the importance of peace for development. Earlier, Zhou met the President of Zimbabwe's Senate Edna Madzongwe and they pledged to further strengthen ties between the two countries' parliaments.