A senior Zimbabwean official said on Wednesday that the southern African country, which is reforming its economy to reduce foreign control, was eager to strengthen ties with China to benefit from the Asian giant's better trade and investment terms.

The Zimbabwean government was shifting focus in its relationship with China from politics to economic cooperation, having cemented the former firmly since independence from Britain in 1980, Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"We have all-weather relations with China, both at the economic and political level, but it has become more imperative now for us to grow our economic ties for mutual benefit. This is particularly so given that we are reforming our economy, and China is doing the same," he said.

He said the two countries had in recent years signed a series of protocols to enhance economic cooperation, in areas of infrastructure development, tourism, trade and investment.

This had paved the way for the Chinese government and private companies to explore more economic opportunities in this Southern African country in various sectors, Mpofu said.

Source: Xinhua