BEIJING, July 8 -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li spoke highly of the historical friendship between the two countries. He said he hopes the two sides will take the 35th anniversary of ties this year to push bilateral relations to a new high.

Li said the Communist Party of China will strengthen exchanges with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to promote the development of the two countries.

Mnangagwa, also ZANU-PF vice president, said the two countries and two parties will continue to strengthen their relationship and expand cooperation.