Zimbabwe received China's Approved Destination Status Monday morning with the signing of an MOU Agreement by Zimbabwe's Minister of Environment and Tourism Francis Nhema and Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration.

"The signing of the Approved Destination Status MOU Agreement marks a new beginning of tourism exchanges between Zimbabwe and China," said Nhema at a tourism promotion conference held by the Zimbabwe embassy to China in Beijing on Monday afternoon.

Called "Africa's Paradise", Zimbabwe shares a border with South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. The country has many attractions including Victoria Falls, which is well-known as one of the world's seven natural wonders and rich historical relics. Zimbabwe is also the home to five wild African animals -- the elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and zebra.

Nhema, who is leading a large tourism delegation to China, said tourism is a key industry in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe attaches great importance to the tourism market in China.

Nhema said a special tourism office was set up in the Zimbabwe embassy to China last August and Zimbabwe is also planning to open a direct air route to China. He added that more steps like launching Chinese language and cooking training programs will be followed, which will help promote tourism cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.

According to the minister, about 41,000 Asian tourists visited Zimbabwe last year, including 10,000 Chinese. Nhema said with the fast expansion of Asian tourism, the number of Asian tourists to Zimbabwe this year will be increased to 80,000, and those from China will reach 25,000.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2004)