HARARE, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday that China is steadily becoming the largest foreign investor in Zimbabwe and certainly is growing as one of the largest trading partners of the southern African country.

    Speaking at the occasion of the official welcome reception in Harare international airport for the two MA60 aircraft from China,Mugabe said the ceremony opened another page in Zimbabwe's long established and cooperative relations with China.

    He said the delivery of the two MA60 aircraft, part of the three to be procured from China, is symbolic of the resolve to foster even stronger ties with Zimbabwean friends in China who have always supported the cause of Zimbabwe.

    Mugabe said Air Zimbabwe has not only acquired the MA60 aircraft, but is also tapping into the vast tourism and other business opportunities by flying twice a week to east Asia.

    The president said the new aircraft would complement the airline's current domestic and regional fleet, adding that he was informed that the planes would operate on domestic and regional routes such as Victoria Falls, Kariba, Bulawayo, Buffalo Range, Lusaka, Lilongwe, Johannesburg and Lubumbashi. Enditem