CRI听力:China, Zimbabwe Pledge Stronger Ties as Mugabe Visits

China and Zimbabwe are promising broader cooperation with one-another.

The pledge has been made amid talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Beijing.

Xi Jinping says China and Zimbabwe should build on the friendship they've established over the last 34 years.

"We should let the mutual trust in politics play the leading role in developing our relationship; we should promote pragmatic cooperation in economics, trade and culture in accordance with our countries' basic conditions and development strategy. And we will turn our relationship into good friends, good fellows and good brothers that treat each other equally with mutual support and benefit."

Xi Jinping also says China is willing to take part in the construction of economic and industrial zones and promote cooperation in infrastructure construction, mining and manufacturing in Zimbabwe.

He also says he's going to encourage more Chinese companies to invest in the southern African country.

For his part, Robert Mugabe says Zimbabwe hopes to continue its relationship with China.

"I want to thank you for what you have just said and assure you that we are prepared on our heart to continue our historical relations and even build on them as we develop our economies. And Zimbabwe will be naturally as before, being a smaller, be the beneficiary of this relationship. So I want to assure you of our well received comity that will do our best to reciprocate your friendship."

The two presidents have also overseen the signing of several cooperative agreements covering areas such as food, finance and tourism.