HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party on Tuesday commended China for its unwavering support to Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

Party Chairman Simon Khaya Moyo said Zimbabwe was proud of China's track record in its support to the southern African country, which dates back to the liberation struggle in the 1970s.

"China has never wavered in terms of solidifying that friendship. There has been so much hostility from the West but China stood by us all the way even at the United Nations where sanctions were being attempted to be imposed on us," he said.

The party chairman was speaking during a farewell courtesy call by outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Xin Shunkang whom he praised as very hardworking.

He noted that bilateral relations between the two countries grew from strength to strength during his three-year tenure in Zimbabwe.

Moyo praised China as a principled country that was not only firm but keen to assist other developing countries.

He also thanked the Communist Party of China for its assistance to Zanu-PF and encouraged more exchange visits between leaders of the two parties.

"We are very grateful for all the visits and we look forward to more such visits. We also appreciate whatever assistance you can give us because we are still in the battle against sanctions imposed on us by the West," he said.