The new Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Yuan Nansheng said on Wednesday China is keen to see Zimbabwe overcoming its current difficulties and will do everything it can to help the Southern African country to overcome them.

When meeting Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru at Munhumutapa offices in Harare, Yuan applauded the achievements that Zimbabwe under the ruling Zanu-PF party has made in various areas and through China-Zimbabwe cooperation.

Yuan told Mujuru that China would like to see Zimbabwe attain greater achievements and the removal of illegal sanctions which have affected various aspects of life for the ordinary Zimbabwean.

The illegal sanctions were imposed by the United States, Britain and the European Union through the internationalization of the Zimbabwe-Britain land dispute by the former colonizer.

Faced with the negative effects of the sanctions, the Zimbabwean government has put in place the Look East policy which has seen Zimbabwe benefiting in the agricultural, transport, industrial and other sectors.

Yuan described Zimbabwe as a very important country in Africa and an all-time friend of the Chinese people and government.

Zimbabwe and China share excellent bilateral ties and cooperation through China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the two sides have seen several exchanges of delegations including visits by President Robert Mugabe and Vice President Joice Mujuru.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2007)