Chinese General Meets Zimbabwean Air CommanderGeneral Fu Quanyou, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), in a meeting November 15 with Perence Shiri, air commander of the Zimbabwean armed forces, said that China is willing to raise its friendship and cooperation with Zimbabwe to a new high.Fu said that the two countries have a time-honored friendship, and they have had fruitful cooperation in political, economic, cultural, military and other areas since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980. He added that leaders of the two countries have had frequent exchanges of visits, and that Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji visited Zimbabwe in recent years, while Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe visited China six times. These visits have played an important role in promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he said. He said that the two countries have shared interests on many issues, and reached consensus on major regional and international issues, adding that China is grateful for Zimbabwe's firm support on the Taiwan and human rights issues. China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, and places great importance on developing friendship and cooperation with Zimbabwe and its armed forces, Fu said. Shiri said that the Zimbabwean armed forces and people consider China a close friend, and his country highly cherishes the friendship with China, adding that the two countries have had good cooperation in political, cultural, scientific and technological areas. Zimbabwe will continue to pursue the one-China policy, he said. The Zimbabwean air commander and his delegation are here at the invitation of the Headquarters of the Chinese PLA General Staff. Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the Chinese PLA General Staff, met with Shiri on Tuesday. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |