Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe met with China's visiting top legislator Wu Bangguo in Harare on Tuesday afternoon.

Mugabe, who has visited China eight times and witnessed great changes there, said Zimbabwe will never forget China's firm support of its independence and economic development since the two countries established diplomatic relations 24 years ago.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, extended Chinese President Hu Jintao's best wishes to President Mugabe, and conveyed Hu's invitation for him to visit China next year. Mugabe, in return, expressed his greetings to both President Hu and his predecessor Jiang Zemin.

Mugabe made a brief introduction to Wu on his country's present situation and foreign policy, saying Zimbabwe has made a favorable turn in its economy with the support of friendly countries, despite sanctions from others.

Wu said that as a friend, China is pleased to see that Zimbabwe has achieved great progress in promoting national unity and economic development, and has played an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability since independence under the leadership of President Mugabe.

On economic and trade relations, Mugabe said he attaches great importance to economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and China, and hoped Wu's visit would promote this.

Mugabe said Zimbabwe's experience showed developing countries should unite to meet challenges with full use of effective regional cooperation. He spoke highly of China's role in international affairs and expressed willingness to hold further consultations.

Wu said the world is diverse, and China supports every nation's choice of its own best development path. He said every nation, big or small, rich or poor, is an equal member of the international community, and China opposes big countries bullying small ones.

He noted that maintaining cooperation with developing countries is the foundation of China's foreign policy, saying China will maintain top-level contacts and explore new ways to boost Sino-African relations, especially within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

Wu praised Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government in their steadfast long-term support for the one-China principle. After the meeting, Mugabe and Wu attended the signing ceremony of an economic and technological cooperation agreement.

Zimbabwe is the second leg of Wu's four-nation African tour, which has taken him to Kenya and will continue to Zambia and Nigeria.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2004)