Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe met with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo on Tuesday in Harare, exchanging views on further developing bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, and reached broad consensus.

Mugabe, who has visited China eight times and witnessed great changes there, said Zimbabwe will never forget China's firm support to its independence and economic development since the two countries established diplomatic relations 24 years ago.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, extended Chinese President Hu Jintao's best wishes to President Mugabe, and conveyed Hu's invitation for him to visit China next year. Mugabe, in return, expressed his greetings to President Hu and his predecessor Jiang Zemin.

Mugabe made a brief introduction to Wu on his country's present situation and foreign policy, saying Zimbabwe has made favorable turn in its economy with the support of friendly countries, despite western countries' sanctions.

Wu said as a friend, China is pleased to see Zimbabwe has achieved great progress in promoting national unity and economic development, and has played an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability, under the leadership of President Mugabe since its independence.

Wu said China believes Zimbabwe would overcome various difficulties to achieve greater development in all sectors.

On economic and trade relations, Mugabe said he attaches great importance to economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and China, and wished Wu's visit will promote bilateral cooperations in economic and trade.

Wu said he shared Mugabe's view and elaborated China's principle of mutual benefit on a win-win basis.

On international situation, Mugabe said Zimbabwe's experience showed developing countries should unite as one to meet challenges with full use of effective regional cooperation mechanism.

Mugabe spoke highly of China's role in international affairs and expressed Zimbabwe's willingness to hold consultations and coordinate with China.

Wu said the world is diverse, and China stands for every nation's free choice of its own development path in line with its own situation.

He said every nation, big or small, rich or poor, is an equal member of the international community, and China opposes big countries bullying small ones.

He noted keeping friendly cooperative relations with developing countries, including African countries, is the foundation of China's foreign policy, saying China will maintain the impetus of top-level contacts and explore new ways to boost Sino-African relations, especially within the framework of Sino-Africa Cooperation Forum.

Wu praised Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government in their steadfast long-term support to the "one China" principle and China's reuniting cause.

Mugabe said he and his government will remain firm in supporting China's position on the Taiwan issue, saying Zimbabwe opposes any plot to separate Taiwan from China.

After the meeting, Mugabe and Wu attended a signing ceremony of an economic and technological cooperation agreement between the two governments.

Zimbabwe is the second leg of Wu's four-nation African tour, which has taken him to Kenya and will take him to Zambia and Nigeria.