Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe met Tuesday in Harare with a visiting eight-member delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to discuss ways of strengthening relations between the two countries.

Addressing journalists soon after the meeting, Cao Bochun, leader of the delegation, said discussions had centered on ways of expanding existing economic cooperation between China and Zimbabwe.

"We discussed ideas of extending cooperation to a new stage," he said.

He said his delegation also discussed with the president ideas of improving political relations between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the CPC.

Sources close to the meeting said Mugabe had expressed gratitude for assistance that China rendered to Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle and continued giving the country after independence.

He said Zimbabwe was benefiting immensely from economic cooperation with China and was interested in expanding the areas of cooperation.

The visit is expected to pave way for exchange of business delegations between the two countries.

China is presently assisting in the refurbishment of the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company. Zimbabwe has also received agricultural equipment including tractors from China.

The CPC delegation arrived here Sunday for a five-day official visit at the invitation of the ruling ZANU-PF.