'Strengthening friendship'

Several deals on food, finance and tourism have been signed between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Zimbabwe counterpart Robert Mugabe.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday that China and Zimbabwe had "pledged to strengthen friendship and all-round cooperation," during Mugabe's five-day visit, which started on Sunday.

Calling Mugabe an old friend of China, a renowned leader of Africa's national liberation movement and promoter of Africa's integration, Xi said the traditional friendship between both countries was forged 34 years ago during the two countries' anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism and anti-hegemony wars.

Ninety-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980, expressed thanks for China's support and praised the country's fairness in global affairs, according to Xinhua.

Mugabe has increasingly turned towards China after being criticized by Western trade partners, who were concerned about his human rights record.

Investment needed

On Monday, the chief of Zimbabwe's central bank John Mangudya pointed out that foreign investment had more than halved in the first half of the year in comparison to 2013, and that the country needed to "fight the negative perception" that was scaring off investors.

Once known as the "breadbasket" of the region, Zimbabwe is now dependent upon imports and has around an 80 percent unemployment rate.

sb/se (dpa, AFP)