Chinese premier vows support for Zimbabwe, Africa

BEIJING, Aug. 26 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday promised visiting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe that China will continue to support the development of Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.

In the two leaders' meeting, Li said that China will transfer technologies adapted to Zimbabwe, help it increase food supply, promote poverty reduction and construct infrastructure, and cooperate on personnel training to boost the country's production and national development.

He also expressed willingness to consolidate political mutual trust with Zimbabwe.

Li said China will "actively support" the proposal of African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to construct high-speed railways connecting capitals and major business centers of African countries, and will help Africa's industrialization process.

Mugabe thanked China for the support and pledged to continue to strengthen the two countries' mutual trust and friendship.

He also vowed to expand bilateral cooperation, and to enhance the two sides' communication and coordination on global and regional affairs.

Zimbabwe welcomes more Chinese companies and tourists and will facilitate such arrivals, Mugabe said.

Li also briefed the Zimbabwean president on China's economic development.

"We have not adopted a strong stimulation policy, but motivate social vitality and business start-ups through reform," he explained, arguing that the toughness and development potential of China's economy will become more obvious with the deepening of reform.

"We have confidence in the economy maintaining medium-to-high growth," Li said.

Mugabe is visiting China from Aug. 24-28.