Chinese Embassy in Harare on Monday gave digital recording and conferencing equipment worth 150,000 US. dollars to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, to be used for recording parliamentary proceedings.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yuan Nansheng handed over the equipment to Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo at a brief ceremony at Parliament Building.

President of the Upper House, the Senate, Edna Madzongwe, was also present.

Moyo thanked China's National People's Congress (NPC) for the donation, noting that relations between the two countries dated back to the time when Zimbabwe was still fighting for its independence.

"I also want to encourage you to continue helping Zimbabwe in general and Parliament in particular," Moyo said.

The Chinese government has made several donations to the parliament of Zimbabwe since 2000, including mainly computer equipment and a motor vehicle.

In an interview, Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma said the Chinese government had been very supportive of the parliament and was one of its major benefactors.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)